Happy Birthday, Singapore!
August is a good month to look closer to home. The timing helps too. The Singapore market has come alive over the past one to two years, and the S$6.5 billion committed under the Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP), the MAS initiative channelling money into local stocks, has yet to be fully deployed.
And it is not only Singapore’s birthday. Lion Global Investors, a reputable local asset manager and an OCBC Company, turns 40 this August as well. What better way to invest in the Singapore market than with a home-grown firm.
Forty years of local expertise shows up in the product shelf. Lion Global Investors runs a full spectrum of Singapore-focused funds, covering bonds and equities, from small caps to blue-chip opportunities, as well as commodities and ETFs.
Our job here is to break them down by what they pay, what they risk and what role they play, so you can build the mix that suits you.
Dividend Paying Funds
Saying that Singaporeans love dividends is an understatement. The good news is that Singapore stocks pay attractive dividends. Bonds too, and for the more risk averse, Lion Global Investors has dividend paying bond funds as well.
| Fund | Dividend Yield | Payout Frequency | Accepted Sources of Funds |
| Lion-OCBC Securities Singapore Low Carbon ETF | 6.43% | Semi-Annually | Cash and SRS |
| LionGlobal Singapore Dividend Equity Fund | 4.47% to 5.38% Depending on share class (Source: Bloomberg as of 17 Jul 2026) | Quarterly | Cash and SRS |
| LionGlobal Short Duration Bond Fund | 3.28% to 4.02% Depending on share class (Source: Bloomberg as of 17 Jul 2026) | Quarterly | Cash, CPFOA, CPFSA and SRS |
Distributions are not guaranteed and may fluctuate. Past distributions are not necessarily indicative of future payments. Distribution payouts and its frequency might be changed at the Manager’s discretion and can be made out of income, capital or both. Any payment of distributions by the fund may result in an immediate reduction of the net asset value per share/unit. Please refer to LGI website for more information on the income disclosures.
Lion-OCBC Securities Singapore Low Carbon ETF (ESG)
According to SGX, this is the top dividend paying equities ETF as of 30 June 2026. That is impressive, because maximising dividends was never the objective. The fund is built around low carbon and sustainable companies, and the yield is a by-product.
Dig into the holdings and the number makes sense. The top holdings include the three local banks alongside high yielding REITs. There is meaningful overlap with the Straits Times Index, but the fund also owns non-STI names such as Sea Ltd and Grab Holdings.* The STI itself yields at 4.33% (Source: FTSE Russell Factsheet for STI as of 31 Jul 2026), so this works as a higher yielding alternative to a Singapore blue chip fund, with a sustainability twist for investors who also care about the planet.
*Securities referenced are not intended as recommendations to buy or sell securities. Opinions and estimates constitute our judgment and along with other portfolio data, are subject to change without notice.
LionGlobal Singapore Dividend Equity Fund
Most Singapore dividend funds cannot afford to skip the three local banks, and this one is no exception, with roughly 35% in the trio as of 30 June 2026. Still, that is well below the STI’s own bank weighting of more than 50%.
Where it differs is in the rest of the portfolio, which includes non-STI stocks. For example, higher yielding REITs and business trusts such as the newly listed UI Boustead REIT, Prime US REIT, and Keppel Infrastructure Trust* are among the top 10 holdings. So this is not a blue chip fund in disguise. It is a mix of large caps and higher yielding mid caps, and that mix is what juices the payout.
*Securities referenced are not intended as recommendations to buy or sell securities. Opinions and estimates constitute our judgment and along with other portfolio data, are subject to change without notice.
LionGlobal Short Duration Bond Fund and ETF
For the most risk averse, this fund is the calmer option. It fluctuates far less in price than the two equity funds above, so you sleep better.
The weighted average credit rating is BBB+ as of 30 Jun 2026, which means the bonds are investment grade on average.
It is also short duration, with a weighted average duration of 2.60 years as of 30 Jun 2026. In plain terms, the shorter the duration, the less the fund’s price moves when interest rates move. That is precisely why the ride is smoother than a long duration bond fund.
The payoff for taking on that modest risk is a yield above 3%. If you want a little more than a fixed deposit or a Singapore Government bond and can stomach a small amount of price movement, this is the shelf to look at.
Seen on a risk versus yield chart, the choice among the three becomes a lot easier to make.
Distributions are not guaranteed and may fluctuate. Past distributions are not necessarily indicative of future payments. Distribution payouts and its frequency might be changed at the Manager’s discretion and can be made out of income, capital or both. Any payment of distributions by the fund may result in an immediate reduction of the net asset value per share/unit. Please refer to LGI website for more information on the income disclosures.
Capital Appreciation Fund
Next, we have one capital appreciation fund to mention. It pays no dividends and reinvest the income instead, so your return comes as capital appreciation.
| Fund | Return in the Past 1 Year | Annualised Return in the Past 10 Years | Accepted Sources of Funds |
| LionGlobal Singapore Trust Fund | 26.5% – 28.5% (depending on share class) | 10.8% – 11.2% (depending on share class) | Cash, CPFOA and SRS |
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Data include Maximum Initial Charge for the respective share classes (where applicable), which may or may not be charged to investors. Returns are based on a single pricing basis. Dividends are reinvested net of all charges payable upon reinvestment and in respective share class currency terms.
Source: Lion Global Investors Ltd / Morningstar as of 30 Jun 2026
LionGlobal Singapore Trust Fund
This is Lion Global Investors’ flagship, and it has been running since 1989, long before EQDP was a thing. Among the nine firms awarded EQDP mandates by MAS, this is the only existing Singapore fund. The rest launched new ones.
The record backs it up. The fund has 1 year return of 26.5% – 28.5%* and annualised return of 10.8% to 11.2%* over the past 10 years depending on share class.
Look at the top holdings and you will spot smaller names such as Ultragreen.ai. That small cap exposure is where much of the return came from. Long before the market started talking about Singapore mid and small caps, this fund was already there. That head start in a space everyone is now crowding into is worth something.
* Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Past performance shown is limited to the stated period and is not the fund’s full performance history. Please refer to the latest factsheet and prospectus before making any investment decision. Data include Maximum Initial Charge for the respective share classes (where applicable), which may or may not be charged to investors. Returns are based on a single pricing basis. Dividends are reinvested net of all charges payable upon reinvestment and in respective share class currency terms.
Source: Lion Global Investors Ltd / Morningstar as of 30 Jun 2026
Alternative Investment
Lion Global Investors does not stop at stocks and bonds. Last year it launched the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund. The twist is where the gold sits. Most gold funds vault their bullion in the UK, Switzerland or the US. This one keeps the allocated gold in Singapore, one of the safest and most secure jurisdictions in the world, and an increasingly attractive one as geopolitical tension rises.
Add it and the portfolio starts to look complete. Stocks for growth, bonds for deflation and rate cuts, money market to preserve capital through turmoil, and gold for diversification.
Money Market Fund
LionGlobal SGD Money Market Fund is the safest fund of the lot. It buys mostly Singapore Government treasury bills, the AAA rated instruments you already know. There is no dividend because T-bills themselves pay no coupon. Functionally it behaves like a fixed deposit, no regular payout, capital sitting quietly. Just do not expect much.
Onward Singapore!
I am proud and blessed to be Singaporean, and I believe a great future lies ahead. Singapore has built a reputation as reliable, politically stable and business friendly. Companies want to set up shop here, and that keeps the economy climbing. Investing in Singapore is simply taking your share of that prosperity.
The same logic applies to who manages your money. Lion Global Investors has spent 40 years stewarding investor capital, and the track record across its funds shows it. This August, while we celebrate one birthday, take a look at what the other has to offer, and put your money to work.
Lion Global Investors funds are available on the major investment platforms.
Disclosure:
This is a sponsored advertisement. Dr Wealth may receive fees, commissions or other benefits in connection with the sponsorship, remuneration or commercial arrangements concerning the products and/or services mentioned. Such arrangements may influence the content or presentation of information.
Dr Wealth is not licensed or authorised to provide financial advice and/or financial services in Singapore.
All data are sourced from Lion Global Investors/Bloomberg as of 30 June 2026 unless otherwise stated.
Disclaimer – Lion Global Investors Limited
This advertisement or publication has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (the “MAS”). It is for information only, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any capital markets products or investments and does not have regard to your specific investment objectives, financial situation, tax position or needs. You should read the prospectus and Product Highlights Sheet of the relevant fund/ETF which are available and may be obtained from Lion Global Investors Limited (“LGI”) or any of its distributors and appointed Participating Dealers (“PDs”), for further details including the risk factors and consider if a fund/ETF is suitable for you and seek such advice from a financial adviser if necessary, before deciding whether to invest in the fund/ETF. Applications for units in our funds must be made on forms accompanying the prospectus.
Investments in our funds/ETF are not obligations of, deposits in, guaranteed or insured by LGI or any of its affiliates and are subject to investment risks including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. The performance of a fund/ETF is not guaranteed and the value of units in a fund/ETF and the income accruing to the units, if any, may rise or fall. Past performance, payout yields and payments as well as any predictions, projections, or forecasts are not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance, payout yields and payments of a fund/ETF. Any extraordinary performance may be due to exceptional circumstances which may not be sustainable. Dividend distributions, which may be either out of income and/or capital, are not guaranteed and subject to LGI’s discretion. Any such dividend distributions will reduce the available capital for reinvestment and may result in an immediate decrease in the net asset value of the fund/ETF. Any references to specific securities are for illustration purposes and are not to be considered as recommendations to buy or sell the securities. It should not be assumed that investment in such specific securities will be profitable. There can be no assurance that any of the allocations or holdings presented will remain in the fund/ETF at the time this information is presented. Any information (which includes opinions, estimates, graphs, charts, formulae or devices) is subject to change or correction at any time without notice and is not to be relied on as advice. You are advised to conduct your own independent assessment and investigation of the relevance, accuracy, adequacy and reliability of any information or contained herein and seek professional advice on them. No warranty is given and no liability is accepted for any loss arising directly or indirectly as a result of you acting on such information. The fund/ETF may, where permitted by the prospectus, invest in financial derivative instruments for hedging purposes or for the purpose of efficient portfolio management. LGI, its related companies, their directors and/or employees may hold units of a fund/ETF and be engaged in purchasing or selling units of a fund/ETF for themselves or their clients.
©2026 Lion Global Investors® Limited (UEN/Registration No. 198601745D). All rights reserved. This publication is issued in Singapore by LGI. LGI is a Singapore incorporated company and is not related to any corporation or trading entity that is domiciled in Europe or the United States (other than entities owned by its holding companies).
For all Exchange-Traded Funds managed by Lion Global Investors Limited (“LGI”):
Please refer to the Prospectus for further details. The units of the ETF are listed and traded on the Singapore Exchange (“SGX”), and may be traded at prices different from their net asset value, suspended from trading, or delisted. Such listing does not guarantee a liquid market for the units. You cannot purchase or redeem listed units in the Fund directly with the manager of the Fund, but you may, subject to specific conditions, do so on the SGX or through the PDs.
For LionGlobal Singapore Trust Fund, LionGlobal Singapore Dividend Equity Fund and Lion-OCBC Securities Singapore Low Carbon ETF:
The Fund’s net asset value may have higher volatility as a result of its narrower investment focus on a limited geographical market, when compared to funds investing in global or wider regional markets.
For LionGlobal Short Duration Bond Fund (Listed and Unlisted Share Class)
The LionGlobal Short Duration Bond Fund (the “Fund”) is not like a typical unit trust offered to the public in Singapore. The Fund comprises both classes of units listed and traded on the Singapore Exchange (“SGX-ST”) and classes of units which are neither listed on the SGX-ST nor any other stock exchange. The Fund may invest in Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital instruments that carry elevated risks, including potential write-down, conversion to equity, suspended coupons and loss of capital. The Fund is an actively managed fund. Please refer to Prospectus for discussion of certain factors to be considered in connection with an investment in the listed units of the Fund on the SGX-ST.
For LionGlobal Physical Gold Fund (Unlisted and Listed Share Class)
The LionGlobal New Wealth Series II – LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund (the “Fund”) is not like a typical unit trust offered to the public in Singapore. The Fund comprises both classes of units listed and traded on the Singapore Exchange (“SGX-ST”) and classes of units which are neither listed on the SGX-ST nor any other stock exchange.
An investment in a precious metals fund carries risks of a different nature from other types of collective investment schemes which invest in transferable securities and a precious metals fund may not be suitable for persons who are adverse to such risks. An investment in a precious metals fund is not intended to be a complete investment programme for any investor.
As a prospective investor, you should carefully consider whether an investment in a precious metals fund is suitable for you, taking into account, your investment objectives, risk appetite and the potential price movements of precious metals. You are responsible for your own investment choices. The Fund’s net asset value may have higher volatility due to its narrower investment focus (primarily in Gold (as defined in the prospectus)), when compared to funds with more diversified portfolios. Please refer to Prospectus for discussion of certain factors to be considered in connection with an investment in the listed units of the Fund on the SGX-ST.
Disclaimer – ICE Benchmark Administration Limited
THE LBMA GOLD PRICE, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED AND PUBLISHED BY ICE BENCHMARK ADMINISTRATION LIMITED (IBA), SERVES AS, OR AS PART OF, AN INPUT OR UNDERLYING REFERENCE FOR LIONGLOBAL SINGAPORE PHYSICAL GOLD FUND. LBMA GOLD PRICE IS A TRADE MARK OF PRECIOUS METALS PRICES LIMITED, AND IS LICENSED TO IBA AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE LBMA GOLD PRICE. ICE BENCHMARK ADMINSTRATION IS A TRADE MARK OF IBA AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES. THE LBMA GOLD PRICE AM, AND THE TRADE MARKS LBMA GOLD PRICE AND ICE BENCHMARK ADMINISTRATION, ARE USED BY LION GLOBAL INVESTORS LIMITED WITH PERMISSION UNDER LICENCE BY IBA. IBA AND ITS AFFILIATES MAKE NO CLAIM, PREDICATION, WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM ANY USE OF THE LBMA GOLD PRICE, OR THE APPROPRIATENESS OR SUITABILITY OF THE LBMA GOLD PRICE FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE TO WHICH IT MIGHT BE PUT, INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO LIONGLOBAL SINGAPORE PHYSICAL GOLD FUND. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALL IMPLIED TERMS, CONDITIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, AS TO QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR PURPOSE, TITLE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, IN RELATION TO THE LBMA GOLD PRICE, ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED AND NONE OF IBA OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WILL BE LIABLE IN CONTRACT OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), FOR BREACH OF STATUTORY DUTY OR NUISANCE, FOR MISREPRESENTATION, OR UNDER ANTITRUST LAWS OR OTHERWISE, IN RESPECT OF ANY INACCURACIES, ERRORS, OMISSIONS, DELAYS, FAILURES, CESSATIONS OR CHANGES (MATERIAL OR OTHERWISE) IN THE LBMA GOLD PRICE, OR FOR ANY DAMAGE, EXPENSE OR OTHER LOSS (WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT) YOU MAY SUFFER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE LBMA GOLD PRICE OR ANY RELIANCE YOU MAY PLACE UPON IT.
Disclaimer – Singapore Exchange Limited
The units in the Lion-OCBC Securities Singapore Low Carbon ETF are not in any way sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by the Singapore Exchange Limited (“SGX”) and/or its affiliates and SGX and its affiliates make no warranty or representation whatsoever, expressly or impliedly, either as to the results to be obtained from the use of the iEdge-OCBC Singapore Low Carbon Select 40 Capped Index and/or the figure at which the iEdge-OCBC Singapore Low Carbon Select 40 Capped Index stands at any particular time on any particular day or otherwise. The iEdge-OCBC Singapore Low Carbon Select 40 Capped Index is administrated, calculated and published by SGX. SGX shall not be liable (whether in negligence or otherwise) to any person for any error in the Lion-OCBC Securities Singapore Low Carbon ETF and the iEdge-OCBC Singapore Low Carbon Select 40 Capped Index and shall not be under any obligation to advise any person of any error therein. OCBC is a registered trade mark of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited and is used under licence. Save for the foregoing, all intellectual property rights in the iEdge-OCBC Singapore Low Carbon Select 40 Capped Index vest in SGX. The iEdge-OCBC Singapore Low Carbon Select 40 Capped Index is used by Lion Global Investors Limited under licence.
