SGX: Best Sector Performances In First Two Months Of 2013

In the first two months of 2013, the best two performing Sector Indices have been the FTSE ST Basic Materials Index and the FTSE ST Utilities Index.
Inclusive of dividends, these two indices have generated a respective total returns of 16.9% and 12.9% over the two months.
The two sector indices with the highest indicative dividend yields as of 28 February are the FTSE ST Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Index at 5.3% and the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index at 4.6%.

The FTSE ST All Share Index has generated a total gain, which includes dividend distributions, of 4.2% over the first two months of 2013. The FTSE ST All Share Index is currently made up 164 stocks with rebalancing results to be announced on 7 March and any changes resulting from the review to be effective after the 15 March close.

The FTSE ST All Share Index is made up of the 30 stocks of the Straits Times Index, the 50 stocks of the FTSE ST Mid Cap Index and the 84 stocks of the FTSE ST Small Cap Index. The FTSE ST All Share Index also provides the group of stocks that are used to construct the Sector Indices of the FTSE ST Index Series.

Of the 12 Sector Indices, detailed in the table below, the two best performing Indices in the first two months of 2013 were the FTSE ST Basic Materials Index and the FTSE ST Utilities Index. Inclusive of dividends, these two indices have generated a respective total returns of 16.9% and 12.9% over the two months.

FTSE ST Index Series	Largest Two Components	No of Comp	Feb Total Return %	YTD Total Return %	12M Total Return %	12M Volat %	Div Yield %
FTSE ST Basic Materials	Geo Energy, Midas Holdings	6	-2.65	16.9	-5.56	28.48	1.43
FTSE ST Consumer Goods	Wilmar, GoldenAgr	17	-1.32	5.52	-16.79	19.05	2.25
FTSE ST Consumer Services	Genting SP, Jardine C&C	17	0.76	6.66	8.83	11.2	2.61
FTSE ST Financials	DBS Group, OCBC	47	0.43	3.19	22.83	10.7	3.28
FTSE ST Health Care	IHH Healthcare, Biosensors	6	-0.7	4	-3.39	18.14	0.26
FTSE ST Industrials	Jardine Matheson, Jardine Strategic	47	-0.46	4.69	20.65	11.65	2.7
FTSE ST Oil & Gas	Keppel Corp, Sembcorp Marine	12	-0.45	3.91	5.83	16	3.3
FTSE ST Real Estate Investment & Services	HKLand, Capitaland	15	-2.39	3.01	29.43	14.77	1.73
FTSE ST Real Estate Investment Trusts	CapitaMall Trust, Ascendas REIT	24	2.37	6.79	40.43	8.41	5.32
FTSE ST Technology	Liongold, CSE Global	4	1.84	5.53	2.28	22.55	1.13
FTSE ST Telecommunications	Singtel, Starhub	3	-0.86	4.76	16.43	13.29	4.63
FTSE ST Utilities	Hyflux, Gallant Venture	5	5.43	12.9	10.41	19.06	1.11

Source: FTSE Group, 28 February 2013

Over the longer 12-month period the Basic Materials Index was the eleventh best performing Index of the twelve, with a decline of 5.6%. The Utilities Index was the sixth best performing Index of the twelve, with a 10.4% gain over the period. Over the twelve months, Basic Materials Index was the most volatile of the twelve Indices, while the Utilities Index was the third most volatile index of the twelve.

The two biggest stocks of the Basic Materials Index are Geo Energy (RE4) and Midas Holdings (5EN). The two biggest stocks of the Utilities Index are Hyflux (600) and Gallant Venture (5IG). The Basic Materials Index is made up of six stocks while the Utilities Index is made up of five stocks.

The two sector indices with the highest indicative dividend yields as of 28 February are the FTSE ST Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Index at 5.3% and the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index at 4.6%.

The two sectors that gained the least over the first two months of 2013 were the FTSE ST Real Estate Investment & Services Index with a 3.0% gain inclusive of dividends and the FTSE ST Financials Index with a 3.2% gain inclusive of dividends.