Singapore’s Assets Ahead of Global Curve

The Monetary Authority of Singapore has published its annual survey of the Singapore Asset Management Industry. The city-state took advantage of Asia’s continued wealth accumulation to keep. (FineNewsAsia)

At the end of 2015, total assets managed by Singapore-based asset managers grew by 9 percent to S$2.6 trillion, compared to S$2.4 trillion as at end 2014. Over the last five years, the industry’s assets under management (AUM) expanded at a 14 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Financial institutions surveyed included Banks, Finance and Treasury Centres, Capital Markets Services licensees (including REIT managers), Financial Advisers, Insurance companies, Operational Headquarters and exempt entities, but excluded direct investments by government-related entities. A total of 776 participants contributed to the 2015 survey results.

Globally AUM grew just 1 percent, compared to 8 percent in 2014, weighed down by slower growth in emerging markets and fears of monetary policy normalisation in the United States. Asia (excluding Japan and Australia) remained a bright spot for sourcing, with AUM growing 10 percent. Against this backdrop, Singapore’s AUM grew by 9 percent to S$2.6 trillion (US$1.8 trillion), accounted for almost entirely by new assets under management.

The Singapore asset management industry has maintained a high level of discretionary AUM, which stood at 52 percent of total AUM at the end of 2015. This reflected the industry’s depth of expertise in higher value-added activities such as portfolio management. However, trends in different segments were mixed. Whereas private equity/venture capital and real estate grew by over 40 percent and 80 percent to S$136 billion and S$69 billion respectively, AUM managed by traditional asset managers increased at a modest pace of 4 percent.