All options to shake Singapore bourse out of its lethargy should be considered

WHAT ails the local bourse? This is what many have been pondering as they watch liquidity and interest in local stocks either dwindle or coalesce towards a handful of blue chips on the Singapore Exchange.

Delistings have outnumbered initial public offerings in the last five years, and the market has had its fair share of culprits who either mislead investors or outright cheat them. The penny stock rout of 2013 often comes to mind, but controversies surrounding bigger and erstwhile stalwarts like Noble Group have also done their fair share to dent the image of the local bourse.

Critics are often quick to point out the need for more bite in regulatory oversight, while industry insiders bemoan the lack of effective initiatives to boost liquidity.