Regional News

Singapore Exchange (SGX) reported a 15.9% year-on-year increase in core net profit for the financial year ending 30 June 2025, reaching S$609.5 million. This performance aligns with expectations, driven by broad-based growth across all business segments. SGX’s net revenue rose by 11.7% to S$1,298.2 million, with notable contributions from fixed income, currencies, and commodities (FICC), cash equities, and equity derivatives, UOB Kay Hian said in a report.

The exchange’s cash equity business benefited from increased investor interest, with securities daily average traded value rising 26.5% year-on-year to S$1.34 billion. Equity derivatives also saw a 10.3% volume growth, despite some declines in specific contracts. SGX’s new dividend policy, which aims to increase dividends by 0.25 S cents per quarter through FY26 to FY28, is a significant positive development. The final quarterly dividend for FY25 was raised to 10.5 S cents, contributing to a total dividend of 37.5 S cents for the year.

Looking ahead, UOB Kay Hian maintains an optimistic outlook for SGX, with expectations of continued revenue growth driven by heightened global uncertainties and new product launches. The Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Equity Market Development Programme is also anticipated to invigorate the Singapore stock market. SGX’s management has expressed confidence in achieving its growth targets, which include a 6-8% annual increase in group revenue, excluding treasury income.
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Singapore’s major banks have demonstrated resilience in the second quarter of 2025, according to a report by UOB Kay Hian. Despite facing significant net interest margin (NIM) compression, banks like DBS, OCBC, and UOB have managed to maintain stable earnings. DBS reported a marginal NIM compression of 7 basis points quarter-on-quarter to 2.05%, aided by balance sheet hedging, whilst OCBC and UOB experienced more pronounced compressions of 12 and 9 basis points, respectively.

DBS’s net interest income saw a slight year-on-year increase of 1.5%, contrasting with declines of 6% for OCBC and 2.7% for UOB. UOB strengthened its deposit franchise, with its current account and savings account (CASA) ratio improving by 5 percentage points year-on-year to 56.5%.

The wealth management sector also saw a recovery, with DBS and OCBC reporting substantial fee surges of 25% and 32% year-on-year, respectively. UOB, adopting a cautious approach, saw a 9% increase. DBS’s asset quality remained stable, with a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio easing to 1.0%.

Capital management remains a priority, with DBS declaring a quarterly dividend of 60 Singapore cents and a capital return dividend of 15 Singapore cents for Q2 2025. OCBC and UOB declared interim dividends of 41 and 85 Singapore cents, respectively.

The report maintains an “OVERWEIGHT” rating on the sector, highlighting attractive dividend yields and capital management strategies. OCBC is recommended as a top buy for its focus on ASEAN trade and investment flows, whilst DBS is noted for its robust yield.
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EMERGE @ FIND is set to broaden its horizons at Singapore Design Week 2025, welcoming designers from across Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. This marks the first time the event will feature a Singaporean co-curator, Edwin Low, alongside returning co-curator Suzy Annetta. The event, taking place from 11 to 13 September at Marina Bay Sands, will showcase over 70 designers and more than 100 works, celebrating Singapore’s 60th year of independence with the theme “Nation by Design.”

Presented by the DesignSingapore Council and supported by FIND – Design Fair Asia, this year’s edition aims to highlight the region’s creative diversity. “This year’s edition exemplifies FIND’s devotion to championing design that is globally resonant, regionally grounded, and always forward-looking,” said Carl Press, Event Director of FIND – Design Fair Asia.

The showcase will explore the theme “Dialogue through Design,” focusing on how design can serve as a medium for storytelling and cultural exchange. Notable works include the “Movement01” floor lamp series by China’s Swirl Up and the “Threads of Becoming” by Singapore’s Shervon and Melvin Ong, which combines traditional lacquer techniques with modern 3D printing.

In addition to the main event, EMERGE 2025 will feature fringe activations, including a dedicated showcase at the Enabling Village in October and retail activations at the Asian Civilisations Museum. “With the expanded footprint featuring designers across Asia, our curators have created a showcase that is at once deeply regional and broadly global,” said Dawn Lim, Executive Director of the DesignSingapore Council.

The event promises to be a significant milestone in the evolution of EMERGE, fostering cross-cultural innovation and craft. Admission is complimentary with pre-registration, whilst on-site registration will incur a fee.
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Alpadis, an international provider of bespoke trust and corporate services, has acquired Ingenia Consultants, a leading compliance service provider in Singapore. This strategic acquisition, completed through a share exchange, aims to expand Alpadis’ services for boutique and medium-sized financial institutions across Asia and the Middle East.

The acquisition will see Ingenia Consultants’ operations integrated into Alpadis, launching a new Regulatory Compliance Services division. Rolf Haudenschild, Co-Founder of Ingenia Consultants, will lead this division as Managing Director and Head of Regulatory Compliance Asia. “This is a strategic joining of forces rather than a simple acquisition,” said Alain Esseiva, Chairman and CEO of Alpadis. “We share a common culture and many clients, and together we will offer a more comprehensive and integrated service proposition to financial institutions.”

Ingenia Consultants, known for its compliance advisory, internal audit, and MAS licensing support, serves over 100 boutique and mid-sized financial institutions. The acquisition enhances Alpadis’ offerings, providing end-to-end support from corporate set-up to compliance, and sets the stage for regional expansion into markets such as the UAE, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.

Haudenschild emphasised the partnership’s long-term nature, stating, “Together we will strengthen our ability to help clients navigate complex regulatory environments as they grow across Asia and beyond.” The transition of Ingenia’s 20-member team into Alpadis will bring additional regulatory expertise to the firm’s Southeast Asia operations.

Alpadis continues to invest in AI and innovative technologies to enhance service delivery, aiming to provide clients with tailored, efficient, and future-ready solutions.
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IP Week @ SG 2025, Singapore’s premier intellectual property (IP) and innovation event, is set to take place at Marina Bay Sands from 26 to 27 August 2025. Organised by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), the event will explore the growing importance of intangible assets (IA) in driving business and innovation amidst global changes. Themed “Ideas to Assets: Innovating in Times of Change,” the event will bring together global IP leaders, business decision-makers, and policymakers.

The event will feature strategic plenaries on IA trends, legal frameworks, and future IP policies. Key topics include IA valuation, IP regulation in the age of Artificial Intelligence, and SME IP-readiness. A welcome reception will be held on 25 August, followed by an opening address by Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower, on 26 August. The event will also include a SIPS 2030 appreciation ceremony to honour contributions to Singapore’s IP strategy.

Participants can engage in the IP Marketplace, offering free consultations on trade mark strategy and IP management. The event will see increased international participation, with over 100 companies, including Alibaba and TikTok, highlighting the region’s innovation ecosystem. Mr Daren Tang, Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, will share insights from WIPO’s Dialogue on IP and SMEs.

IP Week @ SG 2025 aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, reinforcing Singapore’s position as a global IP hub.
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eToro, the Nasdaq-listed trading and investment platform, has announced robust financial results for the second quarter of 2025. The company reported a 26% year-over-year increase in net contribution, reaching $210 million, primarily due to heightened trading activity. The results mark eToro’s first quarter as a public company, with adjusted EBITDA rising 31% to $72 million.

The company’s CEO and Co-founder, Yoni Assia, highlighted eToro’s strategic advancements, stating, “In the second quarter, we offered 24/5 trading for US equities, introduced new long-term portfolios in partnership with Franklin Templeton, and launched savings products in France, all whilst strengthening our footprint in Asia through our new Singapore hub.”

eToro’s expansion in Asia is underscored by the activation of its Capital Markets Services licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, establishing Singapore as its regional hub. This move is part of eToro’s broader strategy to enhance its global presence and product offerings.

Key financial metrics for Q2 2025 include a net income of $30.2 million, adjusted net income of $54.2 million, and a 14% increase in funded accounts to 3.63 million. Assets under administration grew by 54% to $17.5 billion, reflecting the company’s focus on user acquisition and retention.

Looking ahead, eToro plans to continue its technological innovations, including tokenisation and AI tools, to transform retail investor interactions and drive sustainable growth.
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S&P Global Ratings has awarded a ‘AAA’ long-term issue rating to the senior unsecured notes proposed by Temasek Financial (I) Limited, under its $25 billion guaranteed global medium-term note programme. Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited fully guarantees these notes, which are set to mature in August 2027. The proceeds will support Temasek’s regular business operations.

The rating reflects Temasek’s robust portfolio, characterised by its diversity and high quality, alongside its minimal leverage. S&P highlights the company’s strong investment capabilities and the potential for extraordinary support from the Singapore government if necessary. “We rate the proposed senior notes the same as our long-term issuer credit rating on Temasek because we do not view the company’s capital structure as having any material subordination risks,” S&P stated.

As of 31 March 2025, Temasek’s net portfolio was valued at S$434 billion, with 51% in liquid and listed assets. The company also reported cash and cash equivalents of S$57.8 billion and gross debt of S$20.7 billion. Despite an increase in unlisted assets, S&P considers the risk of Temasek needing to liquidate these assets for debt repayment to be remote.

The stable outlook for Temasek is supported by its close ties with the Singapore government and the expectation that its portfolio will maintain investment-grade quality. This outlook aligns with the stable rating of Singapore’s sovereign credit.
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Fortinet, a leader in cybersecurity, has launched a new regional Point-of-Presence (PoP) in Singapore to bolster cloud security services across ASEAN and South Asia. This strategic move aims to enhance data residency, compliance, and digital transformation for businesses in the region. The new hub will provide advanced cloud security services, addressing the increasing complexity of managing multi-cloud environments and evolving regulatory demands.

The Singapore PoP is part of Fortinet’s FortiCNAPP, a Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform, which offers AI-powered threat detection, vulnerability management, and compliance insights. This expansion complements Fortinet’s existing infrastructure in Asia-Pacific, including a PoP in Australia, and extends its global reach with existing hubs in North America and Europe.

Vishak Raman, Fortinet’s Vice President of Sales for India, SAARC, Southeast Asia, and ANZ, stated, “Fortinet’s investment in Singapore reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting the region’s digital growth.” The new PoP will enable organisations to keep data within national borders, ensuring compliance with local regulations whilst providing faster access to cloud security services.

Jess Ng, Country Head for Singapore and Brunei at Fortinet, highlighted the importance of the new PoP in addressing complex cloud environments and security challenges. “Our new FortiCNAPP PoP in Singapore delivers advanced protection, real-time visibility, and scalability,” Ng said.

This development comes as Fortinet’s 2025 State of Cloud Security Report reveals that 78% of organisations in the region use multiple cloud providers, with 61% citing security and compliance as top concerns. Fortinet’s continued investments ensure that enterprises and governments have access to scalable, resilient, and regionally compliant security solutions.
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SDAI Limited has announced a strategic cooperation agreement with LiveBeyond Pte. Ltd. to jointly pursue research and development in the anti-ageing industry. This collaboration, formalised on 11 August 2025, aims to leverage LiveBeyond’s advanced research capabilities and expertise in longevity science to innovate in the field of anti-ageing.

LiveBeyond, led by Professor Brian Kennedy, a distinguished expert in the biology of ageing, is renowned for its comprehensive services in longevity research and medical solutions. The company collaborates with global partners to translate innovations such as biological age diagnostics and regenerative medicine into scalable solutions.

Professor Kennedy, who holds prominent positions at the National University of Singapore, is recognised for his groundbreaking work in extending human lifespan and healthspan.

SDAI’s Executive Chairperson, Hao Dongting, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “SDAI aims to expedite the Group’s transformation towards the biotechnology industry by collaborating with Professor Brian Kennedy and his professional team, who are distinguished professors in the field of ageing science.” She emphasised that the collaboration will help identify gaps in the current anti-ageing industry and drive innovation to meet evolving consumer demands.

This strategic partnership underscores SDAI’s commitment to expanding its presence in the anti-ageing sector and delivering long-term value to its shareholders. The collaboration with LiveBeyond is expected to foster knowledge exchange and technical advancement, positioning both companies at the forefront of anti-ageing research and development.
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AsiaMedic Limited, listed on the SGX Catalist, has announced a 26% increase in revenue, reaching $12.2 million (S$16.6 million) in the first half of 2025. This growth is largely attributed to the strong performance of its diagnostic imaging services. As Singapore continues to establish itself as a regional healthcare hub, AsiaMedic is strategically positioned to cater to the rising demand for high-quality diagnostic and preventive healthcare services.

The company’s financial results highlight a robust performance in its core diagnostic imaging segment, which has been pivotal in driving the revenue surge. Despite the positive revenue growth, AsiaMedic reported a loss of $454,000 (S$616,562) for the period, an increase from the $77,000 (S$104,431) loss recorded in the same period last year. This was primarily due to increased expenses, including a significant rise in personnel costs and depreciation of right-of-use assets.

The financial report also noted a reduction in maintenance costs and an increase in laboratory and consultancy fees. The company’s strategic investments in expanding its service offerings and improving operational efficiencies are expected to bolster future performance.

AsiaMedic’s focus on enhancing its diagnostic capabilities aligns with Singapore’s vision of becoming a leading healthcare destination in the region. As the demand for accessible healthcare services continues to grow, AsiaMedic aims to leverage its expertise and infrastructure to meet these needs effectively. The company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and service excellence positions it well for future growth in the competitive healthcare sector.
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