ETFs traded on SGX hit record of over S$19 billion AUM on 117% qoq turnover surge

[SINGAPORE] Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) delivered a strong performance for Q1 2026 with a high in assets under management (AUM) of more than S$19 billion – a 6 per cent quarter on quarter (qoq) increase – driven by S$1.3 billion in net inflows. 

Trading activity for the quarter rose sharply to an all-time high, as average daily turnover soared 117 per cent on the quarter to S$63 million.

This was driven by strong activity in gold and equity ETFs, which recorded qoq increases of 164 per cent and 141 per cent, respectively, SGX said.

The record performance came on the back of growing investor adoption across retail and institutional segments. Retail AUM surged 57 per cent year on year (yoy) to S$8 billion and now accounts for 42 per cent of total ETF AUM.   

To note, ETF investments via robo-advisers, regular saving plans and retirement schemes grew to S$2.8 billion, underscoring a structural shift towards long-term, automated ETF adoption, said SGX. 

China funds with energy, EV exposure among top equity ETF performers

China-focused ETFs were the strongest performers for Q1, supported by a price rally for energy stocks, SGX said, noting that China yield-focused strategies demonstrated resilience as defensive-yield plays supported strong performance. 

Two ETFs with exposure to the energy sector ranked among the top five best performing equity ETFs.

The CSOP Huatai-PineBridge SSE Dividend Index ETF ranked as the top performing equity ETF, delivering a year to date (YTD) total return of 7.6 per cent in Singapore dollar terms, with the energy sector accounting for 33.5 per cent of the fund.  

The Lion-China Merchants CSI Dividend Index ETF was the third-best performing equity ETF. It delivered a YTD total return of 5.6 per cent in Singapore dollar terms, with the energy sector accounting for 23 per cent of the fund. 

SEE ALSO

SGX noted that China’s exports of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids surged to a record level in March, with overseas shipments soaring 140 per cent year on year to 349,000 units as the global energy shock arising from the Iran war renewed interest in alternative energy solutions. 

Against this backdrop, the Amova-Straits Trading MSCI China Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility ETF was the second-best performing equity ETF for Q1. 

The index invests in Chinese companies expected to derive “significant revenues from energy storage technologies like EVs, autonomous vehicles, shared mobility and new transportation methods” and delivered a YTD total return of 6.2 per cent. 

Two Singapore funds with the Straits Times Index (STI) as their underlying index placed among the top five performing equity ETFs for Q1. 

The Amova Singapore STI ETF ranked as the fourth-best performing equity ETF and delivered YTD total returns of 5.5 per cent, while the State Street SPDR Straits Times Index ETF rounded out the top five list with 5.4 per cent YTD total returns.  

Notably, these two Singapore ETFs generated a three-year annualised total return of 20 per cent with a trailing dividend yield of more than 3.5 per cent, SGX said. Together, their combined net inflows surged to S$450 million for Q1, reflecting increased appetite for Singapore equity, said the SGX.

New records for Reit, gold ETFs 

Real estate investment trust (Reit) ETFs attained a fresh record high of S$1.7 billion in AUM as at end-March, underpinned by resilient investor interest for Q1 and robust inflows. Net inflows surged 126 per cent year on year to S$163 million. 

Among the five SGX-listed Reit ETFs, the Amova Straits Trading Asia ex Japan Reit ETF delivered the strongest one-year return of 5.7 per cent. The CSOP iEdge SReit Leaders ETF notched the highest 12-month gross yields of 6.1 per cent.  

Meanwhile, Gold ETFs benefited from a surge in safe haven demand for bullion on rising investor uncertainty over Q1 – as spot gold prices soared amid rising geopolitical tensions and expectations for US Federal Reserve rate cuts in January and February. 

The AUM of the SPDR Gold Shares ETF broke an all-time high of nearly S$5.1 billion in March, with S$695 million of inflows for Q1, as its daily turnover climbed 96 per cent on the quarter to S$27 million. 

China bonds outperform global fixed-income market on diversification appeal 

Among fixed-income funds, China bond ETFs outperformed broader global fixed income markets in Q1, driven by “resilient demand for high-quality government bonds amid divergent global rate cycles”. 

This was reflected by the performance of the Amova-ICBCSG China Bond ETF, which delivered 2.6 per cent total returns for Q1, said SGX. 

Citing data from the Institute of International Finance, SGX noted that at the market level, Chinese debt markets drew US$2.5 billion of foreign inflows in March, while other emerging markets recorded US$16.7 billion in outflows, underscoring the diversification appeal of China bonds. 

Meanwhile, Singapore dollar bond ETFs maintained a “stabilising role” in investor portfolios for Q1, supported by resilient domestic fundamentals and steady income demand. The ABF Singapore Bond Index ETF recorded the highest one-year return of 5.4 per cent and a 12-month gross yield of 2.4 per cent. 

New launches 

SGX welcomed three new ETF listings in Q1, expanding its ETF lineup to 53 funds. 

The CSOP CSAM CSI A500 Index ETF provides coverage of China’s A-share market across Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, with targeted exposure to emerging high-growth sectors such astechnology hardware, semiconductors, biotech, and software and services. 

Another new entrant, the UOBAM Ping An FTSE Asean Dividend Index ETF, targets higher-yielding Asean equities excluding Reits. It aims to enhance dividend yield and capture Asean’s mid to long-term projected growth trajectory of becoming the fourth-largest global economy by 2030. 

Lastly, the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold ETF is benchmarked against the London Bullion Market Association Gold Price AM. It is backed by physical gold that is fully insured and securely vaulted in Singapore at Le Freeport.