Which sector was the strongest in Singapore in August?

Its indicative market capitalisation weighted total returns of 11.7%.

The IT sector led Singapore’s sectors in August after it recorded returns of 11.7%.

According to an SGX press release, this was followed by the Industrial sector with a 2.9% return and the Utilities sector with a 2.6% return.

SGX added that IT was also the best performing sector in the month of July. Events of the past 12 months have had varied impacts on Singapore’s Sectors – with a number of Cyclical Sectors outperforming Defensive Sectors. Over the past 12 months, the IT Sector ranked the best performing sector a total of five times.

Singapore Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (SIPMM) said the electronics cluster’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) hit 53.2, up from July’s 52.2.

This was the highest recorded reading since November 2010.

SGX said, "The SIPMM added that electronics production picked up the pace with almost all indicators showed improvement signs - new orders, new exports, factory output and inventory levels all expanded at a faster pace."