SGX aims to be the single-point access to Asia

Singapore

SINGAPORE Exchange (SGX) remains steadfast in its vision to provide products and services necessary for investors to have an efficient, single-point of access to Asia, even as Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd makes a bold takeover bid for London Stock Exchange (LSE).

At SGX's 20th Annual General Meeting on Thursday, shareholders asked about the exchange's strategy and whether it needs to respond to the rival's move.

"We want to be a platform for participants that access Asia. Today, in our equities market, cash and derivatives combined, we offer a coverage of almost 99 per cent of Asia's gross domestic product,'' SGX's chief executive officer Loh Boon Chye told shareholders.

"With lower (interest) rates likely to stay for longer, generally it is harder to find returns,'' he said. In such an environment, investors looking for incremental returns will have to look for growth across multiple asset classes, not just e…