Meeting EQDP Fund managers- Singapore in Focus

 

From PhillipCapital

Group selfies with from Left: PSPL Head and Chief investment director Daryl and fund managers Hock Fai (Manulife) and Kenneth Tang (Amova)

Just sat through one of the most useful fireside chats on Singapore equities in months. Great to connect with veterans and fellow practitioners.

PhillipCapital brought together Chan Hock Fai (Manulife) and Kenneth Tang (Amova) to talk "Singapore in Focus: Global Macro Trends Reshaping the Market."

My three raw takeaways—no sugarcoating:
1. Singapore as a safe haven
Lower volatility than the S&P 500 + attractive dividend yield = better risk-adjusted returns. Not exciting. Just effective.

2. Structural change is real
Share buybacks, dividends, and divestments of non-core assets (Singtel, Keppel cited). CEOs finally acting like owners.

3. EQDP is the quiet trigger
Not just policy. A behavioral shift for listed companies, investors, and intermediaries. Institutional shadows are returning.

The bottom line: Singapore won't be a growth rocket. But for patient capital seeking yield and stability? The scaffolding is finally there.

Click on link below to see my full breakdown.

https://bit.ly/ericshareEP50_SGMacroEQDP

The BT Interview: Why This Singapore Market Rally May Persist

Source: BT 5 May 2026

I was interviewed by The Business Times earlier. Here's the my personal opinion about the SG market rally.

Yesterday, Ranamita Chakraborty's piece—"Singapore Equities Market is Buzzing: Market Participants Hope It Will Last"—went live.

I was honored to be one of those participants. But "hope" is not an investment strategy.

In my full Conviction Compass newsletter, I expand on what I told BT. 

Three structural shifts, not sentiment, are propping up this rally:

1.  More listings are arriving and investment seminars.

 For years, the complaint was "nothing new." That is changing. I am seeing more genuine, earnings-backed issuers eyeing SGX than since 2012. That builds a real floor.

2. Value-Up programs are gaining teeth.

 More listed firms are explicitly connecting their strategy to shareholder returns—not just generic slides. That alignment builds trust. Trust builds lasting markets.

3. MAS EQDP is the quiet conductor.

 Not cheerleading—engineering. The Equity Development Programme is deepening stakes and reducing friction. It's the reason institutional shadows are returning.

Will the buzz last?

 Not every day. But the scaffolding is finally there.

👉 Read my full breakdown in Conviction Compass :https://bit.ly/ericshareEP49_BT_SGRally

Veterans don't chase noise. They watch structure change.

PLQ Mall: The Final Piece of the Puzzle-Lendlease REIT

Financial Experts at PLQ Mall

🟢 Just visited PLQ Mall yesterday with Lendlease REIT CEO Guy Cawthra. Here's what every income investor needs to know. Thank you SGX Group for the invitation.

As an SGX REIT Ambassador, I get ground-level access to the management teams shaping Singapore's real estate landscape.

My latest visit? **PLQ Mall**—now with Lendlease REIT acquiring the remaining **30% stake** to own it 100%.

Over dinner with CEO Guy, we discussed:
✅ **The S$196.6m Preferential Offering** – why equity funding matters for your distributions
✅ **The "clustering effect"** – how full ownership of PLQ Mall strengthens their Paya Lebar moat
✅ **Portfolio focus** – Possible divestment of Milan, staying laser-focused on Singapore
✅ **The truth about a possible name change** (and why performance matters more)

Key takeaways every REIT investor should understand before the PO closes on 18 March.

👇 Read my full **ConvictionCompass** analysis below.
https://bit.ly/ericshareEp48_LendleaseReit

At Eric Wealth Advisory:
✅ We decode complex strategies into actionable insights and we handle the execution for you. Most importantly, we free up your time to pursue your other passions or spend quality time with your loved ones.
✅ We bridge the gap between investors and management.
✅ We turn exclusive access into your competitive edge.

1️⃣ Follow me for REIT or SGX deep dives (next: What's trending, data centre REITs disruption, industrial, top leadership and management moves, etc).
2️⃣ DM me to discuss how real estate, equities or reits can diversify your income portfolio.👉

👉 Connect at ohlh@phillip.com.sg
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Do note this sharing is based on my personal opinion not investment recommendation. Hence investors are encouraged to do their own due diligence. Cheers