Market Snapshot
Singapore stocks opened slightly higher on Monday. STI rose 0.09%; China Aviation up 3.2%; Raffled Medical up nearly 3%; Seatrium up 2.8%; UOI fell 0.6%.
Stocks in Focus
United Overseas Insurance (UOI): The insurance arm of UOB on Friday posted a net profit of S$23.7 million for the second half of its 2025 fiscal year ended Dec 31 – a 51.5 per cent increase from S$15.6 million in the year-ago period. Earnings per share for FY2025 stood at S$0.5281, up from S$0.4874 in FY2024. Additionally, the board recommended a final dividend of S$0.195 a share. The counter ended flat at S$7.93 on Friday, before the results.
Seatrium: The marine engineering company expects to achieve over S$50 million in annualised operational cost savings by early 2026 through the divestment of non-core assets, the group announced on Monday. The savings follow a series of transactions involving shipyards, tugboats and equipment across Singapore and Indonesia. Shares of Seatrium closed flat on Friday at S$2.16, before the announcement.
Parkway Life Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit): The Reit has secured an 8.8 billion yen (S$72 million) social loan from DBS, and also priced a S$70 million green bond at a 2.103 per cent coupon. The manager of the healthcare-focused Reit on Friday said that the proceeds will be used to refinance existing loans that are maturing in the fourth quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, proceeds from the five-year green bond – managed by UOB – will be used to term out a loan for renewal works at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Units of Parkway Life Reit closed flat at S$4.04 on Friday, before to the news.
CapitaLand Ascott Trust (Clas): The manager of the trust announced on Monday the acquisition of three freehold rental housing properties in Southern Kanagawa, Greater Tokyo, for 4.6 billion yen. Following this latest acquisition, Clas will have 35 properties in Japan. Units of Clas ended S$0.015 or 1.5 per cent higher at S$0.985 on Friday, before the announcement.
Raffles Medical Group: Raffles Medical Group posted a 21.7 per cent rise in net profit to S$38.5 million for its second half ended Dec 31, 2025, from S$31.6 million in the previous corresponding period. This was mainly due to improved performance from its hospital services and insurance businesses, as well as fair value gains on investment properties, the healthcare provider said on Monday. Shares of Raffles Medical Group closed S$0.01 or 1 per cent lower at S$1.02 on Friday.
SG Local News
SGX Must Find ‘Sweet Spot’ in Culling Underperforming Firms as Regional Peers Tighten Curbs: Market Experts
The Singapore Exchange (SGX) may need to calibrate its current approach in dealing with underperforming companies, particularly as regional peers tighten rules on so-called “zombie” firms, market observers say.
The term “zombie firm” emerged in the 1980s and gained prominence in the 1990s, when economists linked the persistence of weak, heavily indebted companies to Japan’s economic stagnation.
“Most of us will describe them as loss-making firms that do not seem to be creating a semblance of progress,” said James Leong, chief executive of Singapore-based asset manager Grasshopper Asia.