The Singapore stock market delivered a strong performance in the first half of the year, with the Straits Times Index rising nearly 5% and briefly breaking above the 4,000 mark to hit a record high. Several star stocks delivered impressive gains.

Yangzijiang Financial Shares Soar 87%

Yangzijiang Financial shares soared 87.2% in H1.

The investment management company is exploring spinning off its maritime investments business into a new incorporated company that will be listed separately on the mainboard of the Singapore Exchange (SGX), it announced on April 27.

The firm, previously the financial arm of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, said the move will help it to unlock its full growth potential.

The proposed transaction involves transferring the group’s maritime investments assets to a new group, which will function as a dedicated maritime investment platform.

Hong Leong Asia Shares Pop 81%

Hong Leong Asia (HLA), the industrial arm of Singapore's Hong Leong Group, stands out as an undervalued prospect poised for substantial growth. The shares popped 80.8% in H1.

Between Mar 4 and 5, Hong Leong Asia executive chairman Kwek Leng Peck acquired 767,000 shares at an average price of S$0.989 per share. This increased his total interest from 1.19% to 1.29%.

On Feb 26, Hong Leong Asia reported that its FY2024 attributable net profit rose 35.3% year on year, due to strong performances from both the powertrain solutions and building materials businesses.

Centurion Corporation Stock Surges 78%

Centurion shares surged 77.8% in H1.

The dormitory and student accommodation operator’s revenue rose 13 per cent to S$69 million for the first quarter ended Mar 31, from S$61.1 million in the year ago period. 

The company announced its listing application of a real estate investment trust (Reit) to the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

ST Engineering Shares Soar 69%

ST Engineering shares soared 69.2% in H1.

The company’s revenue rose 8 per cent to S$2.9 billion for the first quarter ended March, from S$2.7 billion in the corresponding year-ago period, on the back of broad-based growth across all segments.

The company also bagged new contracts worth about S$4.4 billion in the first quarter of 2025.

The company announced that it will be selling its entire equity interest in ST Engineering LeeBoy, a US-based construction equipment manufacturer, for an estimated US$290 million. The net proceeds from the sale will amount to around US$246 million, and will be used for debt repayment, resulting in interest expense savings of about US$9 million.

Hongkong Land Shares Surge 35%

Hongkong Land shares surged 34.8% in H1.

The Asian property developer will sell 147,025 square feet (sq ft) of One Exchange Square to Hong Kong’s stock exchange operator for HK$6.3 billion (S$1.1 billion), and launch a share buyback programme. 

The share buyback programme will run until Dec 31, 2025. It will return capital to shareholders and reduce the group’s share capital, with repurchased shares being cancelled.

UOB Kay Hian Stock Jumps 33%

UOB Kay Hian shares jumped 33.2% in H1.

UOB Kay Hian’s net profit rose 9.2 per cent year on year to S$110.3 million for the second half of the financial year 2024 ended December, the securities brokerage announced.

Revenue increased 16.3 per cent to S$353.2 million.

Commission and trading income improved by 32.6 per cent to S$202.7 million. Interest income and other operating income remained “relatively stable” at S$129.6 million and S$20.9 million, respectively.

SIA Engineering Shares Jump 33%

SIA Engineering shares jumped 32.9% in H1.

SIA Engineering reported an 87.3% jump in net profit to S$70.8 million for the six months ended March 2025 from S$37.8 million in the same period the previous year.

The company signed fresh services agreements with national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot on May 20, in a deal expected to yield a total labour revenue of S$1.3 billion.

SIA Engineering Shares Jump 32%

SIA Engineering shares jumped 32% in H1.

SIA Engineering (SIAEC) reported an 87.3% jump in net profit to S$70.8 million for the six months ended March 2025 from S$37.8 million in the same period the previous year.

The Company slao signed fresh services agreements with national carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot on May 20, in a deal expected to yield a total labour revenue of S$1.3 billion.

HPL Stock Gains 28%

HPL shares jumped 27.7% in H1.

The real estate player owned by tycoon Ong Beng Seng, posted net profit of S$32.1 million for the second half ended Dec 31, plunging from S$578.2 million in the prior corresponding period.

This reversed the hotel operator’s net loss of S$4.9 million recorded for its first half ended Jun 30, 2024, and translates to earnings per share (EPS) of S$0.0547, down from S$1.1024 in H2 FY2023.

HPL had announced in the morning that Ong, 79, will be relinquishing his position as managing director to manage his medical condition.