Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

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<li>
China’s recent economic reports have supported Premier Li’s assessment that China’s economy in 1Q19 has been steady with some positive changes. GDP grew 6.4% YoY in 1Q19 in part driven by more consumer activity which pared back in 4Q18.  
	 </li>
	<li>
Likewise, Singapore’s 10 largest capitalised stocks that report majority revenue to China, have all gained in 2019 YTD, averaging 25% total returns. The median gain of 21% reflects consistency in the returns of the 10 stocks, versus their gains booked in 2016 &amp; 2017. 
	 </li>
	<li>The strongest of the 10 stocks in 2019 YTD were Hi-P International, China Aviation Oil Singapore and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. The three stocks are also amongst Singapore’s largest stocks in the Information Technology, Energy and Industrials Sector. </li>
</ul>
China was again Singapore's top trading partner by value in 2018, making up 12.9% of the total value of all Singapore's imports and exports. This was up from China trade contributing 10.0% total trade value in 2008, and up from its 4.9% contribution back in 1998. 
Naturally, Singapore also lists a number of companies and trusts with their principal place of business in China. This is complemented by multiple Singapore-based companies and trusts that generate revenue in China or base assets in China. Close to 200 stocks listed on Singapore Exchange (“SGX”) reported somewhere between 10% and 100% of their last financial year revenues to China.  As reported this week, China’s 1Q19 GDP grew 6.4% from 1Q18, in line with its 2019 target range of 6.0% to 6.5%.  The GDP report for the world’s second largest economy was a focal point of the week, particularly given the warnings by IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde in early 1Q19. Speaking on a CNBC Panel at Davos, Ms Lagarde conveyed the economic slowdown in China was legitimate and could pose a major risk if the downtrend started to accelerate.

Various reports have indicated a rebound in economic activity in China in 1Q19 in significant segments such as industrial production, new loans and consumer sentiment.  These reports have supported Premier Li’s recent assessment that the China’s economy in 1Q19 has been steady with some positive changes. Support measures have include reserve-requirement ratio cuts in January, money supply expansion and structural reforms to support the private sector, in addition to small and micro-sized businesses.  In the meantime, the IMF Global Stability Report reported last week that emerging market asset prices have recovered from their mid-2018 sell off, with portfolio flows to emerging markets turning positive and supported in part by increased passive investing tied to index benchmarks.

Last year, China’s stock market was the least performing in the world, and in a U-turn, is the world’s best performing stock market in the 2019 year to date. 

Likewise, the 10 largest capitalised and actively traded stocks on SGX that report the majority of their revenue or base the majority of their assets in China have outpaced the Straits Times Index (“STI”).  As illustrated below, the 10 stocks have all gained in the 2019 YTD, averaging 24.5% total returns, following on from average 21.5% declines in total return in 2018.
<figure>
 <img src="https://api2.sgx.com/sites/default/files/2019-04/snippet1_0.PNG" alt="10 Largest china stocks">
 </figure>
 <div class="content-caption">10 Largest china stocks</div>
As illustrated above, the median return of the 10 stocks indicates that there has been more consistency in the returns of the 10 stocks in the 2019 year to date, than in the previous years of 2016 and 2017. All of the 10 stocks gained in the 2019 year to date, ranging from Hutchison Port Holdings generating a total return of 1.4% to Hi-P International gaining 65.0%. The respective performances of the 10 stocks are tabled below.

<table class="table table-striped"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>
			 
			</td>
			<td>
			SGX Code
			</td>
			<td>
			Market Cap S$M
			</td>
			<td>
			Total Returns (2016)
			</td>
			<td>
			Total Returns (2017)
			</td>
			<td>
			Total Returns (2018)
			</td>
			<td>
			Total Returns (2019 YTD)
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			WILMAR INTERNATIONAL
			</td>
			<td>
			F34
			</td>
			<td>
			23,351
			</td>
			<td>
			25.0
			</td>
			<td>
			-12.1
			</td>
			<td>
			4.3
			</td>
			<td>
			18.3
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			HONGKONG LAND HOLDINGS
			</td>
			<td>
			H78
			</td>
			<td>
			22,562
			</td>
			<td>
			-4.8
			</td>
			<td>
			5.5
			</td>
			<td>
			-6.1
			</td>
			<td>
			14.1
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			YANGZIJIANG SHIPBUILDING
			</td>
			<td>
			BS6
			</td>
			<td>
			6,274
			</td>
			<td>
			-22.3
			</td>
			<td>
			86.3
			</td>
			<td>
			-11.4
			</td>
			<td>
			27.2
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			YANLORD LAND GROUP
			</td>
			<td>
			Z25
			</td>
			<td>
			2,917
			</td>
			<td>
			33.1
			</td>
			<td>
			25.6
			</td>
			<td>
			-21.6
			</td>
			<td>
			23.8
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			HUTCHISON PORT HOLDINGS TR-U
			</td>
			<td>
			P7VU
			</td>
			<td>
			2,831
			</td>
			<td>
			-7.7
			</td>
			<td>
			-5.4
			</td>
			<td>
			-34.0
			</td>
			<td>
			1.4
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			TIANJIN ZHONG XIN PHARM CO-S
			</td>
			<td>
			T14
			</td>
			<td>
			2,266
			</td>
			<td>
			-13.3
			</td>
			<td>
			-1.1
			</td>
			<td>
			-2.5
			</td>
			<td>
			20.3
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			CAPITALAND RETAIL CHINA TRUS
			</td>
			<td>
			AU8U
			</td>
			<td>
			1,528
			</td>
			<td>
			-1.0
			</td>
			<td>
			29.4
			</td>
			<td>
			-12.5
			</td>
			<td>
			16.3
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			CHINA AVIATION OIL SINGAPORE
			</td>
			<td>
			G92
			</td>
			<td>
			1,256
			</td>
			<td>
			104.0
			</td>
			<td>
			18.9
			</td>
			<td>
			-32.7
			</td>
			<td>
			37.7
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			HI-P INTERNATIONAL
			</td>
			<td>
			H17
			</td>
			<td>
			1,170
			</td>
			<td>
			4.6
			</td>
			<td>
			326.5
			</td>
			<td>
			-50.8
			</td>
			<td>
			65.0
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			CITIC ENVIROTECH
			</td>
			<td>
			CEE
			</td>
			<td>
			1,114
			</td>
			<td>
			-0.1
			</td>
			<td>
			7.5
			</td>
			<td>
			-47.5
			</td>
			<td>
			21.1
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			Average Total Returns
			</td>
			<td>
			 
			</td>
			<td>
			 
			</td>
			<td>
			11.8
			</td>
			<td>
			48.1
			</td>
			<td>
			-21.5
			</td>
			<td>
			24.5
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
			Median Total Returns
			</td>
			<td>
			 
			</td>
			<td>
			 
			</td>
			<td>
			-0.6
			</td>
			<td>
			13.2
			</td>
			<td>
			-17.1
			</td>
			<td>
			20.7
			</td>
		</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: SGX StockFacts, Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg (Data as of 17 April 2019)

The above ten stocks span multiple industries and are all currently trading at Price-to-Book (“P/B”) valuations similar to what they have averaged over the past five years. The three best performers of these  10 stocks in the 2019 year to date were Hi-P International, China Aviation Oil Singapore and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. These three stocks have all seen net institutional inflow over the 15 weeks ending 12 April, with Yangzijiang Shipbuilding seeing inflows of S$108 million.

Extending the perspective beyond the 10 largest capitalised stocks to the 25 largest capitalised stocks that report majority revenue to China or base the majority of their assets in China reveals similar positive sentiment in the 2019 year to date. As a group, the 25 stocks averaged a 17.5% total returns in the 2019 year to date with the median total return at 20.0%. These 15 next largest capitalised stocks beyond the 10 tabled above include China Everbright Water, Sasseur REIT, Best World International, Metro Holdings, SIIC Environment Holdings, China Jinjiang Environment, Cosco Shipping International, EC World REIT, Delong Holdings, China Sunsine Chemical Hldgs, Dasin Retail Trust, Hong Leong Asia, Sunpower Group, Ying Li International Real Estate and Valuetronics Holdings.

There are also existing indices that provide a performance measure of Singapore's largest capitalised China-related stocks. The FTSE ST China Index is made up of approximately 20 stocks of the FTSE ST All-Share Index that have reported either at least 50% of their revenues from China, or reported at least 50% of their operating assets located in China. As highlighted in a Market Update last month (click <a href="https://www2.sgx.com/research-education/market-updates/20190328-easier-investor-access-united-sse50-etf-china-focused">here</a>) SGX also lists for trading five China-focused Exchange Traded Funds that seek to replicate major market indices return in China.
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China’s recent economic reports have supported Premier Li’s assessment that China’s economy in 1Q19 has been steady with some positive changes. GDP grew 6.4% YoY in 1Q19 in part driven by more consumer activity which pared back in 4Q18.  
	 
	
Likewise, Singapore’s 10 largest capitalised stocks that report majority revenue to China, have all gained in 2019 YTD, averaging 25% total returns. The median gain of 21% reflects consistency in the returns of the 10 stocks, versus their gains booked in 2016 &amp; 2017.  
	 
	The strongest of the 10 stocks in 2019 YTD were Hi-P International, China Aviation Oil Singapore and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. The three stocks are also amongst Singapore’s largest stocks in the Information Technology, Energy and Industrials Sector. 

China was again Singapore's top trading partner by value in 2018, making up 12.9% of the total value of all Singapore's imports and exports. This was up from China trade contributing 10.0% total trade value in 2008, and up from its 4.9% contribution back in 1998.  
Naturally, Singapore also lists a number of companies and trusts with their principal place of business in China. This is complemented by multiple Singapore-based companies and trusts that generate revenue in China or base assets in China. Close to 200 stocks listed on Singapore Exchange (“SGX”) reported somewhere between 10% and 100% of their last financial year revenues to China.   As reported this week, China’s 1Q19 GDP grew 6.4% from 1Q18, in line with its 2019 target range of 6.0% to 6.5%.  The GDP report for the world’s second largest economy was a focal point of the week, particularly given the warnings by IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde in early 1Q19. Speaking on a CNBC Panel at Davos, Ms Lagarde conveyed the economic slowdown in China was legitimate and could pose a major risk if the downtrend started to accelerate.

Various reports have indicated a rebound in economic activity in China in 1Q19 in significant segments such as industrial production, new loans and consumer sentiment.  These reports have supported Premier Li’s recent assessment that the China’s economy in 1Q19 has been steady with some positive changes. Support measures have include reserve-requirement ratio cuts in January, money supply expansion and structural reforms to support the private sector, in addition to small and micro-sized businesses.  In the meantime, the IMF Global Stability Report reported last week that emerging market asset prices have recovered from their mid-2018 sell off, with portfolio flows to emerging markets turning positive and supported in part by increased passive investing tied to index benchmarks.

Last year, China’s stock market was the least performing in the world, and in a U-turn, is the world’s best performing stock market in the 2019 year to date. 

Likewise, the 10 largest capitalised and actively traded stocks on SGX that report the majority of their revenue or base the majority of their assets in China have outpaced the Straits Times Index (“STI”).  As illustrated below, the 10 stocks have all gained in the 2019 YTD, averaging 24.5% total returns, following on from average 21.5% declines in total return in 2018.

      
    
    10 Largest china stocks
As illustrated above, the median return of the 10 stocks indicates that there has been more consistency in the returns of the 10 stocks in the 2019 year to date, than in the previous years of 2016 and 2017. All of the 10 stocks gained in the 2019 year to date, ranging from Hutchison Port Holdings generating a total return of 1.4% to Hi-P International gaining 65.0%. The respective performances of the 10 stocks are tabled below.




			 
			
			
			SGX Code
			
			
			Market Cap S$M
			
			
			Total Returns (2016)
			
			
			Total Returns (2017)
			
			
			Total Returns (2018)
			
			
			Total Returns (2019 YTD)
			
		


			WILMAR INTERNATIONAL
			
			
			F34
			
			
			23,351
			
			
			25.0
			
			
			-12.1
			
			
			4.3
			
			
			18.3
			
		


			HONGKONG LAND HOLDINGS
			
			
			H78
			
			
			22,562
			
			
			-4.8
			
			
			5.5
			
			
			-6.1
			
			
			14.1
			
		


			YANGZIJIANG SHIPBUILDING
			
			
			BS6
			
			
			6,274
			
			
			-22.3
			
			
			86.3
			
			
			-11.4
			
			
			27.2
			
		


			YANLORD LAND GROUP
			
			
			Z25
			
			
			2,917
			
			
			33.1
			
			
			25.6
			
			
			-21.6
			
			
			23.8
			
		


			HUTCHISON PORT HOLDINGS TR-U
			
			
			P7VU
			
			
			2,831
			
			
			-7.7
			
			
			-5.4
			
			
			-34.0
			
			
			1.4
			
		


			TIANJIN ZHONG XIN PHARM CO-S
			
			
			T14
			
			
			2,266
			
			
			-13.3
			
			
			-1.1
			
			
			-2.5
			
			
			20.3
			
		


			CAPITALAND RETAIL CHINA TRUS
			
			
			AU8U
			
			
			1,528
			
			
			-1.0
			
			
			29.4
			
			
			-12.5
			
			
			16.3
			
		


			CHINA AVIATION OIL SINGAPORE
			
			
			G92
			
			
			1,256
			
			
			104.0
			
			
			18.9
			
			
			-32.7
			
			
			37.7
			
		


			HI-P INTERNATIONAL
			
			
			H17
			
			
			1,170
			
			
			4.6
			
			
			326.5
			
			
			-50.8
			
			
			65.0
			
		


			CITIC ENVIROTECH
			
			
			CEE
			
			
			1,114
			
			
			-0.1
			
			
			7.5
			
			
			-47.5
			
			
			21.1
			
		


			Average Total Returns
			
			
			 
			
			
			 
			
			
			11.8
			
			
			48.1
			
			
			-21.5
			
			
			24.5
			
		


			Median Total Returns
			
			
			 
			
			
			 
			
			
			-0.6
			
			
			13.2
			
			
			-17.1
			
			
			20.7
			
		

Source: SGX StockFacts, Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg (Data as of 17 April 2019)

The above ten stocks span multiple industries and are all currently trading at Price-to-Book (“P/B”) valuations similar to what they have averaged over the past five years. The three best performers of these  10 stocks in the 2019 year to date were Hi-P International, China Aviation Oil Singapore and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. These three stocks have all seen net institutional inflow over the 15 weeks ending 12 April, with Yangzijiang Shipbuilding seeing inflows of S$108 million.

Extending the perspective beyond the 10 largest capitalised stocks to the 25 largest capitalised stocks that report majority revenue to China or base the majority of their assets in China reveals similar positive sentiment in the 2019 year to date. As a group, the 25 stocks averaged a 17.5% total returns in the 2019 year to date with the median total return at 20.0%. These 15 next largest capitalised stocks beyond the 10 tabled above include China Everbright Water, Sasseur REIT, Best World International, Metro Holdings, SIIC Environment Holdings, China Jinjiang Environment, Cosco Shipping International, EC World REIT, Delong Holdings, China Sunsine Chemical Hldgs, Dasin Retail Trust, Hong Leong Asia, Sunpower Group, Ying Li International Real Estate and Valuetronics Holdings.

There are also existing indices that provide a performance measure of Singapore's largest capitalised China-related stocks. The FTSE ST China Index is made up of approximately 20 stocks of the FTSE ST All-Share Index that have reported either at least 50% of their revenues from China, or reported at least 50% of their operating assets located in China. As highlighted in a Market Update last month (click here) SGX also lists for trading five China-focused Exchange Traded Funds that seek to replicate major market indices return in China.



China Aviation Oil Singapore Corp (CAO SP)

10 SGX Stocks with China Exposure Rebound 25% in 2019 YTD

Hongkong Land

10 SGX Stocks with China Exposure Rebound 25% in 2019 YTD