10 more ETFs on SGX gain excluded investment product status

TEN more exchange traded funds (ETFs) at Singapore Exchange (SGX) have been converted to the excluded investment product (EIP) status, boosting the number of EIP ETFs listed on SGX to 19.

The 10 ETFs, which are issued by Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management and are largely cash-based, cover a wide geographical spread of both developed and emerging economies, including Brazil, China, South Korea and Thailand. In this way, investors are able to ride on the growth in these countries.

Retail investors do not have to be pre-qualified for ETFs classified as EIPs, which give them greater access to such securities.

Jenny Chiam, head of securities at SGX, said: "We are pleased to see ten more ETFs have become available to all investors, coming within two months of the regulatory changes. With more choices and access to products from different countries, retail investors can benefit from ETFs as a simple and low-cost way of building a well-diversified investment portfolio."

Joanne Goh, regional equity strategist at DBS Group Research, added: "We are pleased to see more ETFs gain EIP status, providing Singapore investors with more investment choices and ways to diversify their portfolios. Market volatility will persist for a while as Greek bailout negotiation talks and Fed hikes uncertainty perturb markets. Portfolio diversification through the use of ETFs will be most appropriate in this environment."

To promote ETFs as investment products, SGX has waived ETF clearing fees for both institutional and retail investors between June 1 and Dec 31, 2015. SGX is also waiving clearing fees for ETF block trades until Dec 31, 2017.

To enhance investors' understanding of ETFs, SGX is holding a series of ETF education talks, with upcoming events on July 28 and Aug 15-16.