[singapore] Over the five trading sessions from Mar 21 to 27, institutions were net sellers of Singapore stocks, with net institutional outflow of S$151 million. This followed S$18 million of net outflow over the preceding five sessions, and brings the net institutional outflow for the 2025 year to Mar 27 to S$1.6 billion.
Institutional flows
Over the five trading sessions, the stocks with the highest net institutional outflow were UOB, Singtel, DBS, OCBC, Singapore Technologies Engineering, Genting Singapore, Venture Corporation, Frasers Centrepoint Trust, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust and Singapore Exchange.
Meanwhile, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding led the net institutional inflows, followed by CapitaLand Ascendas Reit, Sembcorp Industries, Paragon Reit, ParkwayLife Reit, ComfortDelGro Corporation, Singapore Airlines, UOL Group, Yangzijiang Financial Holding and CapitaLand Investment.
From a sector perspective, Singapore real estate investment trusts and industrials experienced the highest net institutional inflow, while financial services had the most net institutional outflow.
Trading activity
Stocks whose trading turnover notched higher included Envictus International Holdings, SIA Engineering Co, Pacific Century Regional Developments, Mandarin Oriental International, China Sunsine Chemical Holdings, DFI Retail Group Holdings, OKH Global, Hong Leong Asia, Keppel Pacific Oak US Reit and Nam Cheong.
Mandarin Oriental International’s share price declined from US$1.77 to US$1.75 over the five sessions. On Mar 5, the hotel investment and management group reported that its FY2024 revenue increased 13 per cent from the year before to US$2.1 billion.
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Hotel management fees grew 15 per cent in FY2024 due to a strong increase in revenue per available room. Underlying profit after tax was US$75 million, 8 per cent lower than FY2023 due to lower one-off fees. The group highlighted that five new hotels and residences are planned for 2025. Mandarin Oriental International now manages 41 hotels, and aims to double the figure by 2033.
Share buybacks
During the five sessions, 16 primary-listed companies conducted buybacks with a total consideration of S$61 million, more than double the S$29.8 million for the preceding five sessions.
OCBC again led the consideration tally, with 1.45 million shares bought back at an average price of S$17.87 a share. ESR-Reit and Stoneweg European Reit also conducted buybacks over the five sessions. The manager of ESR-Reit bought back 4.3 million shares at S$0.25 a unit, while the manager of Stoneweg European Reit bought back units in both its euro and Singdollar counters.
Venture Corporation
Venture Corporation bought back 203,000 shares at an average price of S$12.51. With the release of its FY2024 results on Feb 21, the company Corporation announced it would accelerate its share buyback plan.
The group noted it purchased 1.7 million shares under the share buyback plan announced in November 2023, which authorises the purchase of up to 10 million shares of the company. For the remaining 8.3 million shares, the board has approved the acceleration of the share buyback plan. Since Feb 21, Venture Corporation has bought back 700,000 shares.
For FY2024, Venture Corporation generated an operating cash flow of S$300.1 million before working capital changes. The group continues to optimise its working capital position, achieving lower inventory balances and improved receivables and payables. The group also achieved a strong net cash flow from operations of S$482.5 million for FY2024. As at Dec 31, 2024, its balance sheet remained robust with zero debt.
Director transactions
About 30 director interests and substantial shareholdings were filed for 18 primary-listed stocks during the five trading sessions. Directors or chief executive officers filed four acquisitions and no disposals, while substantial shareholders filed one acquisition and five disposals. This included director or CEO acquisitions in ABR Holdings, Accrelist, Centurion Corporation, ISOTeam, Megachem and Union Steel Holdings.
Centurion Corporation
On Mar 27, Centurion Corporation executive director and joint chairman David Loh acquired 100,000 shares via a market transaction at S$1.19 a share. This increased his direct stake from 9.12 per cent to 9.13 per cent. His total interest in the specialised accommodation developer and manager is now 59.79 per cent, with deemed interests mostly through his 50 per cent shareholding interest in Centurion Global.
ISOTeam
Between Mar 20 and 21, ISOTeam executive director and CEO Anthony Koh acquired 1.9 million shares at an average price of S$0.076 a share. This increased his total interest from 22.1 per cent to 22.52 per cent.
Koh has more than 30 years of experience in ISOTeam’s core business of building refurbishment and estate upgrading.
ISOTeam is structured into four main business segments which include repairs and redecoration (R&R), addition and alteration (A&A), coating and painting, and other services. The latter includes home retrofitting, landscaping, interior design, mechanical and electrical engineering, renewable solutions, vector control services and handyman services.
Following a strategic review in December 2022, both the R&R and A&A segments represent ISOTeam’s core focus across both the public and private sectors. Both segments are also supported by integrated eco-conscious solutions.
Koh oversees the group’s expansion plans, corporate development, marketing, tendering strategies, budget and cost controls, and resource planning. Before co-founding the group in 1998, he was a director at ISO-Build Corporation, managing projects, contracts and budgets. He worked at D&C Builders from 1989 to 1994, progressing from site supervisor to project manager.
On Feb 11, ISOTeam reported that its H1 FY2025 (ended Dec 31) revenue increased 4.2 per cent from the year-ago period to S$65.3 million, mainly attributed to the A&A segment. A&A contributed 46 per cent of the total revenue, R&R made up 29 per cent and the remaining two segments brought in 25 per cent. The group highlighted that approximately 80 per cent of revenue comes from the public sector, where payments are made within 60 days, ensuring low payment risk.
The group’s H1 FY2025 attributable profit increased 36.5 per cent to S$1.9 million, supported by improved margins of 15.1 per cent compared to 13.3 per cent the year before.
ISOTeam remains cautiously optimistic about market conditions in the construction sector. As at mid-February, the group’s order book stood at S$188.7 million, and it expects this to be supportive of activities until FY2029. Koh has expressed optimism about securing several tenders and maintaining a robust order book due to upcoming public-sector infrastructure projects and upgrades.
ISOTeam has also highlighted that it is incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its spray-painting capabilities, allowing it to adapt to complex contours of eaves and ensure comprehensive coverage without leaving any blind spots. A live trial for this AI-driven spray-painting technology is scheduled for Build-To-Order blocks under construction in Singapore in the second quarter of 2025.
Koh noted last year that, unlike the fluctuating demand for construction, the need to maintain and upgrade buildings is constant. He said that in Singapore, buildings must be repainted at least once every five years and have their facades inspected every seven years.
He added that the market for maintenance and upgrading is growing annually and, even without new buildings, Singapore’s existing structures are ageing and require work. Koh said this is the advantage that the building refurbishment and estate upgrading industry has over the construction sector.
On Feb 24, the group announced a recommendation to distribute at least 30 per cent of its consolidated net profit after tax, excluding non-recurring, one-off and exceptional items, for future financial years ending Jun 30. Following the completion of a capital reduction exercise in December 2024, to better reflect the value of its underlying assets and its financial position, ISOTeam revised its dividend policy.
The stock has had a significant increase in its average daily trading turnover this year – from near S$160,000 in 2024 to more than S$538,000 a day this year till Mar 27. ISOTeam was founded in 1998 and listed on the Catalist board in July 2013.
ABR Holdings
On Mar 20, ABR Holdings managing director Ang Yee Lim acquired 150,000 shares at S$0.42 a share. This increased his direct interest in the home-grown restaurant operator from 53.9 per cent to 53.97 per cent. Ang has gradually increased his interest from 52.12 per cent as at the end of 2023, and has served as managing director since July 2004.
The writer is the market strategist at Singapore Exchange (SGX). To read SGX’s market research reports, visit sgx.com/research.
