SGX seeks to shake off ‘boring’ image, draw more young investors as trading hits 12-year high
Efforts to attract younger retail investors include reducing board lot sizes to make shares more affordable.
Singapore's stock exchange, Singapore Exchange (SGX), aims to shed its reputation for being "boring" and attract a new generation of investors, particularly the younger demographic. In the past year, retail trading activity in the local market surged 52% year on year, reaching the highest level in 12 years in 2026. To address this, SGX will bolster efforts to engage younger investors and dispel the notion that the market is unexciting.
SGX Director of Capital Market Development Emelia Tan highlighted the common misconception that US markets are the only source of growth stocks. She explained that young investors often perceive local growth stocks as too risky and opt for safer investments like Treasury bills and Singapore Savings Bonds. Tan emphasized that the Singapore market has outperformed the US in recent years, delivering a total return of 125% over the past five years, compared to 73% for the US market.
To accommodate young investors, SGX has reduced board lot sizes for certain stocks, allowing them to purchase shares with smaller amounts of capital. The exchange also offers exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the Straits Times Index (STI), providing investors with a convenient and cost-effective way to gain exposure to a broad-based index.
SGX's Global Listing Board (GLB) enables companies to list on both SGX and Nasdaq with a single set of documents, potentially attracting larger companies with Asia exposure and piquing the interest of younger investors.
In 2026, SGX plans to launch a new edition of Invest in Action, an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between local investors and companies. This program will make investing more accessible and engaging through interactive learning experiences, such as site visits for small and mid-cap companies. Additionally, SGX introduced InvestSG, a social media platform where investors can discuss stock picks and share insights. As of now, the platform has over 50,000 users.
Tan stressed the importance of investing in today's world, where people are living longer and facing rising costs. She advocated for a long-term perspective, encouraging investors to ride economic growth and gain exposure to the market over a 20-year horizon. SGX also envisions a future where new parents receive a "baby bonus" package that includes funds earmarked for investing in the local stock market, enabling their children to hold investments from birth.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
