SGX securities trading up 34% to $35bln

Securities and commodities activity strong in April as investors maintain interest and confidence on market.

Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Wednesday said securities and commodities trading remained strong in April 2010.

Total securities trading value rose 34% year-on-year to $35.3 billion, as investor interest and confidence remained buoyant while exchange-traded funds trading increased 65% from a year earlier to $486 million, according to SGX report on Wednesday.

Six mainboard IPOs raised a total of $839 million in April as market sentiment improved.

Meanwhile, overall volume improved 2% with equity index options activity rising 22% year-on-year to 16,264 contracts.

Trading on SICOM increased to 108,193 contracts, five times that of a year earlier as investor interest increased with the launch of the Gold and Coffee contracts.

AsiaClear volume was 11,205 contracts, four times the volume of a year earlier. Iron ore swaps volume hit a record-high 4,436 contracts, up 60% from 2,772 contracts a month earlier, and 52% higher than the previous high of 2,910 contracts in November 2009.