Better stock research vital in move to bolster S’pore market: Fund managers

They share largely positive outlook for the Equity Market Development Programme

- Benjamin Lim Correspondent

Refreshed research coverage to aid in the discovery of quality companies, in tandem with more measures to boost demand, will be crucial for the Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP) to achieve lasting impact, fund managers said.

They were speaking on the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) measures to revitalise the Singapore market at the SAC Capital Connect event on Sept 23, organised by the investment banking firm at the Singapore Exchange (SGX) Centre.

Their outlook on the impact of the EQDP was largely positive, saying that this is the first time there is a concerted effort from all segments of the financial market aimed at a single objective of attracting investor interest and capital.

But the fund managers also noted that there are both supplyand demand-side problems, like improving market research and boosting retail investor demand, that would need to be addressed for the EQDP to be effective in the longer term.