Industry News

BlackRock has unveiled its inaugural Singapore ETF Insights Report, revealing a significant gap between current ETF adoption and future investment intentions among Singaporeans. The report, based on a survey of over 2,000 adults, shows that whilst 18.7% currently invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), 37.6% intend to do so in the next 12 months.

The findings suggest that investor interest is outpacing actual adoption, presenting an opportunity for financial institutions to bridge this gap through education and improved access. Nicholas Peach, Head of APAC iShares for BlackRock, noted that the growing interest in ETFs reflects a broader trend across Asia Pacific, where investors seek accessible and cost-efficient tools for portfolio diversification.

Key insights from the report include that 62% of surveyed adults already invest in at least one financial product, indicating potential ETF growth from existing investors. Additionally, 56% of investors began investing to grow their money beyond savings, with 51% of current ETF investors contributing to an ETF savings plan.

The report also highlights the need for simpler investment journeys, as 53.6% of current and prospective ETF investors desire clearer product explanations, and 48.2% seek user-friendly platforms for executing trades. Koay Hui Sien, Head of iShares Fixed Income Product Strategy for APAC at BlackRock, emphasised the importance of making ETF investing more intuitive to help investors confidently transition from interest to action.

As global ETF assets reached a record $23.08 trillion (US$23.08 trillion) by May 2026, BlackRock’s iShares platform continues to offer a wide range of ETFs, supporting investors in achieving their financial goals.

ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove is set to become Singapore’s first marina to offer 24/7 Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) clearance for pleasure craft and yachts starting 1 September 2026. This new service aims to provide boaters with the flexibility to arrive or depart at any time, reinforcing Singapore’s status as a key boating gateway.

Since resuming CIQ operations in June 2022, the marina has facilitated over 2,500 vessel clearances, highlighting the demand for efficient marina services. The 24/7 service was developed in collaboration with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to ensure seamless operations and maintain border security.

Jonathan Sit, Regional General Manager of the Marina Division at SUTL Enterprise, stated, “The launch of Singapore’s first 24/7 CIQ service for pleasure craft at a marina marks an important step forward for ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove and the wider boating community.” This initiative comes as regional boating activities grow across Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia, making Singapore a more convenient stopover for cross-border journeys.

To celebrate the launch, promotional pricing for the 24/7 CIQ service will be available for the first six months. James Roy, Senior Marina Director, expressed gratitude for ICA’s support in enhancing clearance services for Singapore’s boating community.

ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, inaugurated in 2007, is renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities and has received accolades such as International Marina of the Year 2023. The introduction of 24/7 CIQ operations underscores its commitment to service innovation and operational excellence.

DBS has launched an innovative agentic AI solution aimed at transforming the preparation of complex credit assessments for corporate clients. This tool, now available to 1,500 bankers globally after a successful pilot with 150 users, automates over 70 tasks to produce a review-ready first draft of credit memos. This advancement allows relationship managers to dedicate more time to strategic client engagements.

Credit assessments are crucial for evaluating a company’s financial health and risk profile, but they are traditionally time-consuming. Relationship managers often spend up to 40% of their time on these tasks, which involve analysing vast amounts of data from various sources. DBS’s AI solution aims to cut this time by at least 30%, enabling managers to focus on strategic conversations and risk managers to concentrate on portfolio strategy and emerging risks.

Han Kwee Juan, Group Head of Institutional Banking at DBS, stated, “We believe that agentic AI can help to reimagine corporate banking. Through this capability, we have been able to capture the knowledge and insight of our best relationship managers and credit risk managers, turning these into a solution which enables us to level up the quality of our credit analysis at scale.”

This initiative is part of DBS’s broader strategy to integrate AI across its operations, enhancing both customer and employee experiences. The bank recently upgraded its virtual assistants, DBS Joy and DBS digibot, to serve 10 million customers across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. As DBS continues to embed AI into its processes, it aims to amplify human expertise and focus on what matters most.

Savills Singapore has successfully brokered the sale of a Good Class Bungalow (GCB) redevelopment plot at 5 Jalan Sampurna for S$31.3m. The sale, announced on 19 August 2026, highlights the continued demand for prime GCB assets despite a more selective luxury property market.

Located in the prestigious Oei Tiong Ham Park GCB enclave, the freehold site spans approximately 14,982 square feet. It features a prominent 37-metre street frontage and a depth of approximately 32 metres, offering an ideal canvas for an architectural masterpiece. The area is known for its exclusivity, low-density housing, and lush surroundings, providing privacy and serenity for Singapore’s elite.

Alan Cheong, Executive Director of Research and Consultancy at Savills Singapore, noted, “Although the number of GCB transactions has apparently been low, this deal shows that for properties located in the better GCB areas, demand is still evident if the pricing is right.”

Nick Chan, Associate Director of Investment Sales and Capital Markets at Savills Singapore, commented on the sale’s significance: “The successful sale of Jalan Sampurna demonstrates the continued depth of demand for quality GCB opportunities in Singapore. Whilst buyers remain discerning, well-located sites with strong redevelopment potential continue to attract meaningful interest.”

The scarcity, prestige, and long-term wealth preservation attributes of GCBs make them one of Singapore’s most coveted residential asset classes. As the market evolves, the demand for such exclusive properties is expected to remain robust, driven by ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking unique investment opportunities.

Nera Telecommunications Ltd, a technology solutions provider listed on the Mainboard, has announced a return to profitability with a net profit of $0.5m for the first half of 2026, reversing a $1.8m loss from the same period last year. The company also reported an EBITDA of $2.4m, a significant improvement from a negative $0.4m in the first half of 2025.

The company’s order intake surged by 40.9% year-on-year, reaching $56.8m, whilst its order backlog expanded to $116.1m, ensuring revenue visibility into the second half of 2026 and beyond. Cash generated from operations increased to $17.7m, up from $5.6 m in the previous year, bolstering NeraTel’s balance sheet with $23.4m in cash and equivalents.

Executive Chairman Steve Chu attributed the positive results to operational improvements and financial discipline. “Our first half results reflect the progress we have made in strengthening the business over the past year,” he stated. Chu highlighted the collaboration with Ennoconn, which is expected to accelerate the rollout of innovative products and services.

NeraTel’s revenue rose slightly to $45.2m, driven by stronger contributions from Singapore, despite a decline in revenue from Indonesia. The company aims to leverage its partnership with Ennoconn to enhance its technology capabilities and market position, focusing on connectivity, cybersecurity, and AIoT services.

Looking ahead, NeraTel plans to deepen customer engagement and expand its ecosystem of strategic partners, aiming to capture opportunities in digitalisation and managed technology services.

CBRE has announced the sale of three exclusive freehold retail units located at 20, 26, and 28 Greenwood Avenue in Singapore’s affluent Bukit Timah neighbourhood. The sale, managed by CBRE as the exclusive marketing agent, will be conducted via an Expression of Interest exercise, closing on 23 September 2026.

Situated in the heart of Hillcrest Park, these retail units boast a prestigious District 10 address, surrounded by a dense residential area and renowned educational institutions such as Raffles Girls’ Primary School and Hwa Chong Institution. The area is home to approximately 86,000 residents, providing a substantial customer base for retail and food and beverage (F&B) businesses.

The properties are currently fully tenanted, offering immediate rental income to potential investors. They can be purchased individually or as a portfolio, with a combined indicative value of approximately S$18.5m. Notably, these freehold commercial assets are open to foreign buyers without the imposition of Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty or Seller’s Stamp Duty.

Clemence Lee, Executive Director of Capital Markets at CBRE, highlighted the strategic value of these properties, stating, “With Turf City set to deliver up to 20,000 new homes, we expect a substantial expansion of the resident catchment within a short drive or MRT ride of Greenwood Avenue.”

The properties are well-connected, located near Tan Kah Kee MRT station and major expressways, with future transport developments expected to enhance accessibility further. This sale presents a rare opportunity for investors and owner-occupiers to secure a foothold in a highly sought-after freehold enclave.

Singapore Polytechnic (SP) has unveiled the Cybersecurity Assessment and Security Operations Centre Training Lab for Enterprises (CASTLE), a pioneering initiative aimed at bolstering the cybersecurity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) whilst providing students with practical industry exposure. With this launch, SP becomes the first Institute of Higher Learning in Singapore licensed by the Cybersecurity Services Regulation Office to offer penetration testing services.

CASTLE addresses the increasing cybersecurity threats faced by SMEs, as highlighted by a 21% rise in ransomware cases in Singapore in 2024. The programme offers a comprehensive framework built on four pillars: Cybersecurity Hygiene Check, Cybersecurity Posture Assessment, Security Operations Centre, and Cyber Awareness Outreach. These services range from basic cybersecurity awareness to advanced security operations, helping SMEs build their cyber maturity.

The initiative is supported by industry partners such as ST Engineering, OffSec, and Athena Dynamics, which provide expertise and resources. “CASTLE was built to close the gap for SMEs lacking the budget or expertise to defend themselves,” said Liew Chin Chuan, Director of SP’s School of Computing.

CASTLE is expected to benefit over 180 students annually through various projects and internships, whilst up to 50 SMEs are anticipated to gain from its services by mid-2027. This initiative supports Singapore’s national efforts to enhance cybersecurity across its economy, positioning SP as a key player in the country’s cybersecurity ecosystem.

The Singapore International Commercial Court has ordered a freeze on approximately S$75m worth of Bitcoin and USD Coin following a dispute involving a major cryptocurrency trading platform and a longstanding customer. The court’s decision, issued by Justice Aidan Xu and SICC International Judges Anthony Meagher and David Goddard, grants an interim injunction preventing the defendant from dealing with 816,773 USD Coin and 780 Bitcoin that were transferred from two specialised wallets.

The claimants, operators of the trading platform, allege that due to a technical oversight, their internal ledger failed to record transfers from the defendant’s wallets in March 2020, despite support for these wallets ceasing in 2018. Acting on this mistaken belief, the claimants transferred 2,500 Bitcoin and 2,500 Bitcoin Cash into the defendant’s other wallets in July 2024. The defendant subsequently converted 20 Bitcoin into approximately 816,773 USD Coin and moved these, along with 780 Bitcoin, into other wallets between July and November 2024.

In January 2025, the claimants discovered the ledger discrepancies and froze the defendant’s wallets, recovering 1,700 Bitcoin and 2,500 Bitcoin Cash. The court found sufficient evidence to suggest the defendant’s wallets were effectively empty and that the claimants had mistakenly credited the assets. It was also arguable that the defendant was aware of the mistake when contacted by the claimants in July 2024. The full judgement is available at 2026 SGHCI 4.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced a series of measures designed to bolster Singapore’s position as a leading asset management hub. These initiatives, revealed on 19 August 2026, aim to capitalise on the industry’s growth, which has seen an average annual increase of 7.5% over the past five years, reaching nearly S$7t.

The measures include a tax exemption for profit-related returns from fund management services to qualifying funds, a new hedge fund investment programme, and an Investment Management Track under the Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass framework. These steps are intended to attract top asset management talent and anchor high-value activities in Singapore amidst rising international competition.

The tax exemption, set to take effect from the Year of Assessment 2027, will apply to profit-related returns received through commercial fund arrangements. This initiative is expected to sharpen Singapore’s global competitiveness as an asset management hub. Further details will be disclosed at Budget 2027.

Additionally, the Hedge Fund Investment Programme will invest with hedge fund managers committed to establishing or expanding their presence in Singapore, thereby supporting the growth of the local hedge fund ecosystem.

The ONE Pass Investment Management Track, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower, aims to attract global leaders and senior investment professionals. This track may include adjustments to salary assessments to better reflect industry compensation structures, recognising returns linked to investment performance.

These measures are expected to enhance Singapore’s asset management industry, which currently employs nearly 25,000 people, with locals comprising around 80% of the workforce.

Timah Partners, a Singapore-based permanent capital firm, has announced the acquisition of a S$60m umbrella debt facility aimed at facilitating SME acquisitions in Singapore. This innovative facility, supported by UOB, RHB Bank, and Genesis Alternative Ventures, is structured to enable the acquisition of multiple small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with strong cash flows, including asset-light businesses that typically face financing challenges.

The facility is designed as an umbrella delayed-drawdown arrangement, providing a pre-negotiated framework for financing and executing SME acquisitions over time. Dennis Chua, Founder and CEO of Timah Partners, highlighted the importance of clarity and trust in succession planning, stating, “Succession is a big life decision for a founder. It’s not just about price.”

This move comes amidst a growing SME succession crisis in Singapore, where many founders are nearing retirement without clear succession plans. Timah’s model offers a solution focused on continuity and long-term ownership, providing an alternative to traditional private equity, which has become more selective in Southeast Asia.

Eric Lian, Head of Group Commercial Banking at UOB, emphasised the bank’s commitment to supporting SMEs, stating that the partnership with Timah Partners will help catalyse resilience and growth for local enterprises. Serena Hong, Head of Commercial Banking at RHB Bank, added that the facility offers a structured pathway for founders to navigate succession whilst preserving their business legacy.

Timah Partners aims to use this facility as a stepping stone for broader efforts to ensure SME continuity in Singapore, with plans to extend its relationship with lending partners into wider financing and banking support as these businesses grow.