Manufacturing-related stocks book $68m in net institutional inflows

Total returns, however, declined by 8.9% year-on-year

Despite Singapore’s weak key exports, the indicative iEdge SG Advanced Manufacturing Index still booked $68m in net institutional inflows year to date, defying the overall net institutional outflow across the broader local stock market.

Latest data from the SGX showed the index has partially reversed last year’s $193m net institutional outflows, with Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, Venture and ST Engineering posting the highest net inflows for the year ended 17 April.

Total returns, however, went down by 8.9% with close to three gainers recorded for every five decliners across more than 100 SGX-listed companies included in the index. Overall, there were 63 decliners and 37 gainers, while the returns of four constituents were unchanged.

The decline followed the 21% year-on-year drop in Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports in March, but stands in contrast to the strong performance of two other major trade hubs in the region. 

South Korea posted a 3.1% YoY growth in exports last month while Taiwan’s exports jumped 18.9% during the same comparable period.

“The mixed reports for March, followed all three trade hubs printing strong growth in January and comparatively more muted to flat export growth February,” the SGX said.

READ MORE: Non-oil domestic exports fall 20.7% year-on-year in March

So far this year Global Invacom Group, Broadway Industrial Group and Willis Array, were the three most traded stocks on the Singapore bourse.