Singapore, Jan 25, 2026, 15:15 SGT — Market closed
- Shares of Singapore Exchange Ltd finished at S$17.52, gaining 1.27%
- SGX RegCo has opened a consultation on reducing board lot sizes for higher-priced stocks, with feedback due by Feb 13
- Attention shifts to SGX’s 1H FY2026 results, set for release on Feb 5
Shares of Singapore Exchange Ltd closed Friday 1.27% higher at S$17.52, following a proposal from the bourse’s regulator to reduce minimum trading lots for pricey stocks. Trading volume hit roughly 1.54 million shares. The stock’s 52-week range remains between S$11.50 and S$17.89. (Investing)
The plan is significant because it tackles a key hurdle for retail investors: in Singapore, most stocks require trading in “board lots,” fixed share bundles that can raise the cash needed for a single purchase.
Retail participation often drives trading volumes directly. For SGX, this remains a crucial revenue swing factor, alongside derivatives and data services.
Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo) is asking for feedback on slashing the standard board lot size from 100 units to 10 for instruments priced between S$10 and S$100, and down to a single unit for those above S$100. Ng Yao Loong, head of equities at SGX Group, noted that roughly 30% of trading activity involves stocks priced above S$10. He said the move could cut the minimum investment from several thousand dollars to just a few hundred. Comments are open until Feb 13, with a potential rollout in mid-2026 if approved. Additionally, SGX RegCo proposed dropping the rule that forces minimum bid sizes for some Hong Kong dollar, yuan, and yen products to match their home markets. (ShareInvestor)
Analysts largely welcomed the change but highlighted some trade-offs. Phillip Securities’ Chawla Vikramjit Singh called smaller lots “a crucial catalyst for increased turnover.” UOB Kay Hian research director Jonathan Koh said it might broaden liquidity beyond just a handful of large-cap stocks. On the flip side, RHB Singapore’s Shekhar Jaiswal cautioned that more small tickets could “fragment liquidity” and push spreads wider if market depth doesn’t improve. He also noted that cheaper entry sizes won’t address deeper challenges like the IPO pipeline or competition from other platforms. (The Straits Times)
Separately, SGX CEO Loh Boon Chye is pushing for deeper cross-market connections. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, he said SGX aims to expand cross-trading schemes with Shanghai and Shenzhen, while also exploring potential partnerships with Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. Loh described “connectivity” as the “new architecture for capital markets.” He added there’s no firm plan yet for a tie-up with HKEX but highlighted yuan business as a promising area. Loh also mentioned SGX’s collaboration with Nasdaq to launch a global listing board by mid-2026. (South China Morning Post)
As trading kicks off again after the weekend, investors will be looking to see if Friday’s gains hold up. Attention will also turn to any early reactions from the industry, especially concerning safeguards and market-making specifics.
SGX is set to release its first-half FY2026 results before the market opens on Feb 5. The company will follow up with a 9 a.m. Singapore-time briefing, led by CEO Loh and CFO Daniel Koh. (Sgx)
