Monetary Authority of Singapore – News

Inside MAS Episode 4: Revitalising Singapore's Equity Market

The Inside MAS podcast episode focuses on Singapore’s equity‑market revitalisation, detailing a sweeping reform agenda launched by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in late 2024. The programme aims to transform a historically sluggish market into a vibrant financing hub for startups, mid‑caps and established firms, positioning Singapore as a regional capital‑raising centre. MAS identified four strategic levers – simplifying listings, expanding demand and liquidity, adopting a pro‑enterprise regulatory stance, and enhancing global connectivity. These measures respond to global capital concentration in a few markets and a six‑fold rise in local private‑equity and venture‑capital assets, now exceeding $700 billion. A cross‑sector review group, chaired by senior ministers and comprising public agencies and industry associations, crafted a holistic, ecosystem‑wide plan rather than a single “magic bullet.” Key initiatives include the $5 billion Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP), which has already allocated roughly $4 billion to nine active managers after attracting interest from over 100 asset managers worldwide. GEMS research support is being expanded and digitised to cover private‑to‑public company journeys, while the Value‑Unlock programme provides grants, investor events, and community platforms such as the SID Chairperson’s Guild to help listed firms articulate their stories and improve shareholder engagement. If successful, these reforms should deepen the IPO pipeline, broaden the investor base, and stimulate ancillary sectors—asset management, investment banking, wealth management, and professional services—thereby generating jobs and reinforcing Singapore’s status as a leading financial hub.