Singapore’s exchange traded fund (ETF) iShares MSCI Singapore Index (EWS) is up 19.3% year-to-date. It could see increases as the country’s economy is likely to grow 7.5% in 2007 from strong expansion in the financial services and construction sectors, according to a quarterly central bank survey. In addition, economists are optimistic about manufacturing being a central driving force, the Associated Press reports.
Singapore already has one of the world’s highest per capita incomes and high-quality public services that have attracted lots of global labor. Foreigners comprise about one-fifth of its 4.5 million residents, reports Seth Mydans and Wayne Arnold for The Herald Tribune. Singapore’s leaders aren’t modest about their achievements either: Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s elder statesman, has declared the country is entering "a golden age," says Carl Delfeld for ETF XRAY.
It should come as no surprise that Singapore is embracing ETFs. In fact, I’m scheduled to speak at the Index & ETF Investments Asia 2008 conference in February. It’s the only Asian conference that addresses the opportunities and challenges of ETFs. Some of the topics that will be covered include:
- Hot sectors in Asia
- Launching, structuring and marketing a successful index and ETF within Asia
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.