Singapore, Jan 18, 2026, 15:30 SGT — Market closed
- Shares of Singapore Exchange ended Friday at S$17.70, gaining 0.17%.
- Applications for a new “Value Unlock” grant programme for listed companies began Jan. 16.
- Investors are eyeing if liquidity boosts from reforms will actually drive listings, turnover, and earnings growth.
Shares of Singapore Exchange Ltd (S68) closed Friday up 0.03 Singapore dollar, or 0.17%, at S$17.70. The market was closed over the weekend. Around 1.28 million shares traded as the stock stayed just under its 52-week high. 1
The next boost for SGX is coming from policy, not trading floors. On Friday, Minister Chee Hong Tat announced that the “Value Unlock” programme has opened applications for two grant schemes. This move is part of a wider push to raise corporate standards and deepen investor engagement in Singapore’s equity market. “It also provides platforms that support companies in their journey to take decisive actions to create and communicate better,” he said. 2
The S$30 million initiative targets listed companies looking to sharpen their strategies and boost investor communications, offering grants that cover training and consultancy costs. SGX managing director Chan Kum Kong noted that better investor relations could drive higher demand for a stock, potentially leading to “a re-rating or uplift”—essentially, a jump in valuation multiples. 3
Fund flows have offered an early signal. Over the five sessions ending Jan. 15, institutions snapped up Singapore stocks, net buying S$208 million, according to The Business Times. Singapore Exchange was among the top counters drawing the largest net institutional inflow. 4
Risk appetite worldwide has stabilized for the moment. In the week ending Jan. 14, global equity funds recorded their biggest weekly inflows in 15 weeks, lifting world stocks near record levels, Reuters reported Friday. 5
Liquidity remains SGX’s persistent challenge, and it complicates the exchange’s own growth ambitions. The planned fast-track “dual listing” scheme with Nasdaq—allowing shares to trade on both platforms—is expected to launch by mid-2026. Yet bankers caution that Singapore’s low turnover and steep entry requirements could dampen interest. Aaron Tan, co-founder and CEO of Carro, pointed to the “complexity and the need to deal with two regulators during an IPO.” Deloitte’s Tay Hwee Ling added the “broader impact will depend on early deal flow, liquidity support” and any adjustments to listing thresholds down the line. 6
Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) has rolled out its proposed rulebook. The consultation paper for the new Global Listing Board came out on Jan. 9 and the feedback window shuts on Feb. 8. That deadline could serve as a key marker for how fast the framework takes shape. 7
Traders are keeping an eye on the usual near-term indicators: cash equities turnover, derivatives activity, and whether investor days and outreach under the new programme begin to draw interest to smaller stocks. Exchange shares tend to track volumes closely, even amid reform headlines.
This isn’t a straightforward, sure thing. Liquidity often takes years to build, and IPO pipelines can dry up fast if volatility surges or investors pull back from equities. Should the reforms fail to deliver steady deal flow, SGX shares could find it tough to maintain a premium near their recent highs.
SGX’s first-half FY2026 results are coming out Feb. 5 before the open, followed by a 9 a.m. briefing Singapore time with CEO Loh Boon Chye and CFO Daniel Koh. 8
