SGX’s H1 net profit rises 20.7% to S$340 million

THE Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Thursday (Feb 6) posted a net profit of S$340 million for the first half ended December, up 20.7 per cent from S$281.6 million in the previous corresponding period.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) for H1 grew 23.4 per cent on the year to S$425.3 million.

Earnings per share (EPS) stood at S$0.318, up from S$0.263 in the year-ago period.

After adjusting for certain “non-cash and non-recurring items” that have less bearing on SGX’s operating performance, its net profit would have risen 27.3 per cent to S$320.1 million, and its EPS would have been S$0.299.

SGX’s board of directors has declared an interim quarterly dividend of S$0.09 per share, up from the S$0.085-per-share payout in the previous corresponding period. This brings total dividends in H1 FY2025 to S$0.18 per share.

The interim quarterly dividend will be paid on Feb 21.

Revenue for the half-year period increased 15.2 per cent to S$682.2 million, from S$592.2 million in the previous corresponding period. Excluding transaction-based expenses, net revenue would have risen 15.6 per cent to S$646.4 million, from S$559 million in the year-ago period.

SGX attributed the increase in net profit and revenue to growth across all its business segments.

Loh Boon Chye, chief executive officer of the group, noted that the cash equities and equity derivatives segment led SGX’s broad-based performance.

This was followed by the currencies and commodities business unit, with “notable growth in our over-the-counter foreign exchange business now contributing 5 per cent of the group’s Ebitda”, he said.

Looking ahead, he expects some moderation of macro tailwinds in the near term. “We are focused on growing our business and remain optimistic about our medium-term outlook.”

Shares of SGX closed 0.8 per cent or S$0.10 higher at S$12.43 on Wednesday.