The Economist · 13 Aug, 07:00 · Finance briefing

Can Singapore ever build a proper stock market?

The Economist examines whether Singapore can evolve its financial centre into a robust equity market capable of rivaling regional peers.

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28%average pay gap between certified and uncertified finance staff

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83%of finance leaders rank upskilling a top-3 priority

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

The Economist examines whether Singapore can evolve its financial centre into a robust equity market capable of rivaling regional peers. The analysis highlights structural constraints, including a dominance of state-linked enterprises and a relative scarcity of high-growth technology listings. It questions if regulatory reforms and policy incentives can successfully attract deeper liquidity and broader investor participation. For professionals, the piece underscores the tension between stability and dynamic market expansion, offering a critical perspective on the limitations and potential trajectories of Singapore’s capital markets infrastructure.

Employer demand for Finance and Accounting skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

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This debate signals a shift in demand for specialists who understand regulatory frameworks and market microstructure. If Singapore pursues deeper capital market integration, professionals skilled in financial regulation, equity research, and compliance will see heightened demand. You should monitor policy announcements regarding foreign investment and listing requirements. Smart professionals will upskill in regulatory technology and financial analysis to navigate this evolving landscape. Focus on understanding how state-linked entities influence market dynamics. Consider enhancing your expertise in risk management and capital markets law. These skills will position you to advise firms on navigating the complexities of a maturing, yet constrained, financial ecosystem.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Finance and Accounting, Risk Management Strategies, Compliance And Governance and Financial Modeling — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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