SINGAPORE: Singapore Exchange (SGX) has reported 3Q FY2020 net profit of S$137.5 million with revenues of S$295.8 million. EBITDA stood at S$186.2 million, while earnings per share was 12.8 cents. The Board of Directors has declared a dividend of 7.5 cents per share, payable on 13 May 2020.

Loh Boon Chye, Chief Executive Officer of SGX, said, “Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, our priority is to keep SGX’s markets relevant, resilient and fully accessible round-the-clock, to serve the heightened demand from market participants for risk management solutions and investment opportunities across our asset classes. Our expanded geographical footprint has helped to support our US and European clients trading outside of Asian trading hours, whose activity has grown to 20% of total derivatives volumes.”

“With uncertainty around the eventual economic and financial impact of COVID-19 and path to recovery, these elevated levels of volatility are likely to be prolonged. We value the support of our industry partners and stakeholders; together, we will continue to enable efficient risk and portfolio management for investors and clients, and help businesses raise capital,” added Mr Loh.

From FY2021 (1 July 2020) onwards, SGX will adopt half-yearly financial reporting, with dividends continued to be paid on a quarterly basis. Mr Loh elaborated, “SGX is committed to paying dividends on a quarterly basis, even with semi-annual financial reporting. We will also continue to publish our monthly market statistics reports which provide timely updates on our markets and products.”

Results Summary:

Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities (FICC): FICC revenue – comprising Fixed Income as well as Currencies and Commodities – Derivatives revenues – increased 23% to S$45.5 million (S$37.0 million), and accounted for 15% (16%) of total revenue.

Fixed Income revenue rose by 24% to S$4.0 million (S$3.2 million).

Listing revenue: S$3.1 million, up 29% from S$2.4 million

Corporate actions and other revenue: S$0.9 million, up 11% from S$0.8 million

There were 325 (276) bond listings raising S$135.8 billion (S$133.6 billion).

Currencies and Commodities – Derivatives revenue increased 23% to S$41.5 million (S$33.7 million), accounting for 14% (15%) of total revenue.

Trading and clearing revenue: S$28.8 million, up 29% from S$22.3 million

Treasury and other revenue: S$12.7 million, up 11% from S$11.4 million

Trading and clearing revenue grew as commodities futures volumes increased 34% to 7.0 million contracts (5.2 million contracts), driven primarily by increased volumes in our iron ore derivatives contracts. Currency futures volume also increased 45% to 7.8 million contracts (5.5 million contracts).

Treasury and other revenue increased mainly due to higher treasury income from the management of margin balances. Margin balances grew from higher open interest as customers used our currency and commodity derivatives contracts for portfolio risk management.

Equities:

Equities revenue – comprising Equities – Cash as well as Equities – Derivatives revenues – rose 31% to S$217.3 million (S$165.7 million), accounting for 73% (72%) of total revenue.

Equities – Cash revenue increased 38% to S$111.3 million (S$80.4 million), accounting for 38% (35%) of total revenue.

Listing revenue: S$8.9 million, down 4% from S$9.3 million

Corporate actions and other revenue: S$6.2 million, down 4% from S$6.5 million

Trading and clearing revenue: S$67.9 million, up 65% from S$41.1 million

Securities settlement and depository management revenue: S$25.8 million, up 21% from S$21.4 million

Treasury and other revenue: S$2.6 million, up 17% from S$2.2 million

There were 5 (5) new equity listing which raised S$701.5 million (S$38.6 million). Secondary equity funds raised were S$478.9million (S$543.5 million).

Daily average traded value (DAV) increased 58% to S$1.61 billion (S$1.02 billion). Total traded value increased by 63% to S$101.4 billion (S$62.3 billion). This was made up of Cash Equities[1], where total traded value increased by 64% to S$96.6 billion (S$58.9 billion), and Other Products[2], where traded value increased 39% to S$4.8 billion (S$3.5 billion). There were 63 (61) trading days in the quarter.

Average clearing fees for Cash Equities was comparable at 2.79 basis points (2.80 basis points). Average clearing fees for Other Products increased 1.21 basis points (0.58 basis points) due to increased activity from higher yielding exchange-traded funds. Overall turnover velocity was 57% (36%).

Securities settlement and depository management revenue increased mainly due to higher subsequent settlement activities.

Equities – Derivatives revenue increased 24% to S$106.0 million (S$85.3 million), accounting for 36% (37%) of total revenue.

Trading and clearing revenue: S$65.0 million, up 26% from S$51.6 million

Treasury, licence and other revenue: S$41.0 million, up 22% from S$33.6 million

Clearing revenue increased as equity derivatives volume increased 24% to 61.5 million contracts (49.5 million contracts). This was mainly due to higher volumes in our Nikkei 225, MSCI Taiwan, and Nifty 50 index futures contracts.

Treasury and other revenue increased mainly due to higher treasury income. Treasury income increased mainly due to higher margin balances, which grew from higher open interest as customers used our equity derivatives contracts for portfolio risk management.

Data, Connectivity and Indices:

Data, Connectivity and Indices revenue increased 26% to S$33.0 million (S$26.1 million), accounting for 11% (11%) of total revenue.

Market data and indices revenue: S$17.2 million, up 53% from S$11.2 million

Connectivity revenue: S$15.8 million, up 7% from S$14.9 million

Market data and indices revenue increased mainly due to the consolidation of revenues from Scientific Beta Pte. Ltd. (Scientific Beta), which was acquired in January 2020. Scientific Beta contributed revenues of S$5.9 million during the quarter.

Connectivity revenue increased 7% from higher derivatives connectivity and continued growth of our colocation services business.

Total expenses – comprising operating expenses, and depreciation and amortisation – increased by 20% to S$132.9 million (S$110.6 million).

Operating expenses increased 16% to S$109.6 million (S$94.6 million) mainly due to higher staff costs, which include staff costs of Scientific Beta; cost associated with the SGX Care Package for COVID-19 related support; and an increase in processing and royalties expenses. The average headcount for the quarter was 877 (823), which includes 33 staff of Scientific Beta.

Technology-related capital expenditure was S$7.8 million (S$10.3 million). These investments were mainly for the development of our fixed income trading platform, the digitalisation of retail investor services and overall enhancements to our key infrastructure.

In view of the higher market activity, introduction of the SGX Care Package, and our recent acquisition of Scientific Beta, our FY2020 operating expense guidance of between S$465 million and S$475 million will be revised to between S$485 million and S$495 million.