STI registers 2.4% year-to-date total return amidst slow growth

The index posted 20 gainers and nine losers.

Amidst the macroeconomic headwinds, The Straits Times Index (STI) posted a 2.4% total return over the first 15 weeks of 2023. 

During this period, SGX said the index documented 20 gainers, one stock unchanged, and nine decliners.

Strongest performers include Sembcorp Ind, Keppel Corp, Genting Sing, Keppel DC REIT, and Mapletree Log Tr, with the five stocks averaging 22% total returns, whilst the decliners were CityDev, YZJ Shipbldg, ThaiBev, Singtel, and HongkongLand, which averaged a 6% decline in total returns.

Sembcorp Industries’ net profit in 2022 was valued at $883m, up 87% from $472m in 2021. 

The two STI tracking exchange traded funds maintain combined assets under management of $2.2b, with YTD net primary market redemptions of $59m and secondary market turnover of $217 million as of 14 April.

In March, the two STI ETFs also posted a 26-month high in combined net purchases on the secondary market.