---
title: "Channelling Global Small‑Cap Capital into Singapore Equities"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/279549960.md"
description: "The Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV) manages over 1,700 developed ex-US stocks, including 40 SGX-listed stocks that have averaged 8% total returns YTD. These stocks have a combined market capitalization of S$50 billion and an average daily turnover of S$123 million. The ETF has seen net institutional inflows of S$36.1 million, primarily in Materials and Industrials. The liquidity of these stocks has improved, with narrower bid-offer spreads compared to last year. Global Resource Construction has notably increased its trading activity and is expanding its market reach following a recent acquisition."
datetime: "2026-03-17T23:23:31.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/279549960.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/279549960.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/279549960.md)
---

# Channelling Global Small‑Cap Capital into Singapore Equities

-   The Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF (AVDV), managed by Avantis Investors (American Century), holds over 1,700 developed ex-US stocks globally, including around 40 SGX-listed names. These 40 Singapore stocks averaged 8% total returns YTD, or 6% total returns YTD when weighted according to relative ETF holdings.  
-   **The 40 stocks maintain a combined market capitalisation of S$50 billion, while averaging S$123 million in average daily turnover (ADT) YTD. The cohort have also booked combined net institutional inflow of S$36.1 million for the period, led by net institutional inflows to Materials and Industrials.**   
     
-   **Close to three‑quarters of the 40 stocks are seeing narrower bid‑offer spreads versus a year ago. Global Resource Construction saw ADT rise to S$3.1m in 2026 YTD from S$1.3m in 2025, driving a tighter 116bps average bid‑offer spread over the past five sessions.** 

**Singapore Stocks in Global Small‑Cap Portfolios**

With Assets Under Management (AUM) of US$17 billion, the Avantis International Small Cap Value Exchange-Traded Fund (AVDV ETF) is issued by Avantis Investors, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Century. The ETF invests in a broad range of small-cap stocks listed in non-US developed markets, targeting stocks trading at low valuations and with higher profitability ratios. 

As of end‑February, the overall portfolio was most heavily weighted to Materials (25%) and Industrials (23%). Within the broader universe of more than 1,700 holdings, the 40 SGX‑listed stocks span nine sectors, with the highest representation in Industrials and Consumer Non‑Cyclicals. Notably, however, over the past 12 weeks, Materials and Industrials have also recorded the largest net institutional inflows across the 40 SGX-listed stocks, at S$52.3 million and S$50.3 million, respectively.

The ETF holds a more substantial position in these SGX-listed stocks than they occupy in the ETF portfolio due to the ETF's significant AUM. For example, the ETF holds approximately 5.5% of Rex International, while Rex International represents just 0.06% of the ETF portfolio as of March 16. 

The 10 SGX-listed stocks in which the ETF maintains the highest shareholding are shown in the table below.

**Stock**

**Code**

**Mkt Cap S$M**

**YTD ADT S$M**

**YTD NIF S$M**

**YTD TR %**

**1H25 TR %**

**2H25 TR %**

**5-day Avg Bid/ Offer Spread (bps)**

**Sector**

**Indicative Unit/ Shareholding by ETF**

Rex Intl

5WH

226

5.9

\-7.6

21

45

\-22

59

Energy/ Oil & Gas

5.53%

Geo Energy Res

RE4

854

4.8

10.9

19

16

26

100

Energy/ Oil & Gas

2.96%

SamuderaShipping

S56

576

1.3

\-0.3

\-11

12

46

98

Industrials

2.67%

YZJ Fin Hldg

YF8

870

8.2

\-77.9

\-38

87

19

194

Financial Services

2.64%

YZJ Maritime

8YZ

1,971

5.6

\-31.1

\-9

N/A

N/A

87

Financial Services

2.50%

Wee Hur

E3B

634

3.8

10.0

\-7

33

58

79

Industrials

2.38%

Marco Polo Marine

5LY

598

6.7

\-7.4

\-8

\-13

265

71

Industrials

1.82%

RH Petrogas

T13

192

1.9

2.5

48

6

\-8

212

Energy/ Oil & Gas

1.27%

LHN

41O

250

0.9

\-4.0

\-8

41

\-1

100

Real Estate (excl. REITs)

1.26%

HPH Trust USD

NS8U

2,390

1.8

7.9

1

5

32

168

Industrials

1.06%

_Note ADT refers to Average Daily Trading Turnover, NIF refers to Net Institutional Flow, TR refers to Total Return._   
_Sources: SGX, Avantis Investors. Market data as of 17 March, indicative ETF weights as of March 16._ 

**Capital Flows, Returns and Liquidity** 

The 40 SGX-listed stocks that are a part the ETF portfolio maintain a combined market capitalisation of S$50 billion, while averaging S$123 million in average daily turnover (ADT) for the 2026 year to March 17. The cohort have also booked combined net institutional inflow of S$36 million, while averaging 8% total returns for the 12 weeks. Moreover, close to three-quarters of the stocks have seen improved trading liquidity, as measured by average bid-offer spreads for the five sessions through March 17, compared to the same five sessions in 2025. 

The 10 stocks of the cohort that have seen the largest contraction in average bid-offer spreads over the two periods are tabled below. 

**Stock**

**Code**

**Mkt Cap S$M**

**YTD ADT S$M**

**YTD NIF S$M**

**YTD TR %**

**5-day Bid/ Offer Spread**

**(bps)**

**5-day Bid/ Offer Spread 1 year ago (bps)**

**Sector**

**Indicative Unit/ Shareholding by ETF**

GRC

S3N

349

3.1

\-0.2

6

116

308

Industrials

0.38%

MarcoPolo Marine

5LY

598

6.7

\-7.4

\-8

71

204

Industrials

1.82%

CNMC Goldmine

5TP

689

12.0

42.3

63

64

163

Materials & Resources

0.56%

Banyan Tree

B58

529

0.6

\-3.6

\-2

92

164

Consumer Cyclicals

0.005%

Geo Energy Res

RE4

854

4.8

10.9

19

100

159

Energy/ Oil & Gas

2.96%

Hong Leong Asia

H22

2,185

4.8

7.4

22

46

105

Consumer Cyclicals

0.39%

Indofood Agri

5JS

565

0.1

0.4

9

164

217

Consumer Non-Cyclicals

0.01%

Food Empire

F03

1,713

3.6

18.8

30

42

83

Consumer Non-Cyclicals

0.04%

InnoTek

M14

155

1.4

4.2

2

97

135

Technology

0.21%

Wee Hur

E3B

634

3.8

10.0

\-7

79

115

Industrials

2.38%

_Note ADT refers to Average Daily Trading Turnover, NIF refers to Net Institutional Flow, TR refers to Total Return._   
_Sources: SGX, Avantis Investors. Market data as of 17 March, indicative ETF weights as of March 16._ 

**Market Liquidity and Business Transformation at Global Resource Construction**

Global Resource Construction has seen ADT in the 2026 year to March 2026, surge to S$3.1 million, compared to S$1.3 million in 2025. This has seen the stock’s bid-offer spread average 116bps over the past five sessions, compared to 308bps for the same five sessions in 2025. 

Global Resource Construction maintained in its Annual Report FY25 that is entering its next phase of growth, anchored by a strengthened construction platform following the acquisition of Chip Eng Seng Construction and its subsidiaries in April 2025. 

Chip Eng Seng Corporation previously delisted from SGX in 2023. The transaction broadened Global Resource Construction’s operating capabilities, expanded its market reach, and positioned the group to capture opportunities across Singapore’s construction sector.

Alongside this, Global Resource Construction remains focused on disciplined capital allocation and selective growth initiatives aimed at enhancing shareholder value and supporting sustainable long‑term growth. 

For its 1HFY26 (ended Dec 31) the Group maintained seven revenue streams, led by Singapore building construction (56%) and civil infrastructure (27%), with the balance contributed by Australia construction, environmental and sustainability projects, prefabrication, procurement, and property investment. It expects continued earnings visibility, supported by a S$2.9 billion construction order book as of Dec 2025 (vs S$2.3 billion June 30), while fully occupied industrial properties provide near‑term income stability.

Global Resource Construction was also one of 16 stocks in the 39‑stock listed for the duration across 1H25, 2H25 and 1H26 (to March 17), that delivered positive returns for each of the three periods. The other stocks included CNMC Goldmine Holdings, China Aviation Oil (Singapore), CSE Global, Hong Leong Asia, First Resources, BRC Asia, Pan‑United, Food Empire, Hutchison Port Holdings Trust, Boustead Singapore, Geo Energy Resources, The Hour Glass, Indofood Agri Resources, Wing Tai Holdings, and QAF.

The full 40 stocks are tabled below. 

**Stock**

**Code**

**Mkt Cap S$M**

**YTD ADT S$M**

**YTD NIF S$M**

**YTD** 

**TR %**

**1H25 TR %**

**2H25 TR %**

**5-day Avg Bid/ Offer Spread (bps)**

**Sector**

Rex Intl

5WH

226

5.9

\-7.6

21

45

\-22

59

Energy/ Oil & Gas

Geo Energy Res

RE4

854

4.8

10.9

19

16

26

100

Energy/ Oil & Gas

SamuderaShipping

S56

576

1.3

\-0.3

\-11

12

46

98

Industrials

YZJ Fin Hldg

YF8

870

8.2

\-77.9

\-38

87

19

194

Financial Services

YZJ Maritime

8YZ

1,971

5.6

\-31.1

\-9

N/A

N/A

87

Financial Services

Wee Hur

E3B

634

3.8

10.0

\-7

33

58

79

Industrials

Marco Polo Marine

5LY

598

6.7

\-7.4

\-8

\-13

265

71

Industrials

RH Petrogas

T13

192

1.9

2.5

48

6

\-8

212

Energy/ Oil & Gas

LHN

41O

250

0.9

\-4.0

\-8

41

\-1

100

Real Estate (excl. REITs)

HPH Trust USD

NS8U

2,390

1.8

7.9

1

5

32

168

Industrials

Yanlord Land

Z25

1,255

2.5

\-2.3

\-7

\-24

40

84

Real Estate (excl. REITs)

Golden Agri-Res

E5H

3,868

5.1

5.4

7

\-2

14

168

Consumer Non-Cyclicals

First Resources

EB5

4,412

5.2

6.0

36

3

46

40

Consumer Non-Cyclicals

China Aviation

G92

1,746

3.4

20.3

22

4

82

57

Industrials

CSE Global

544

912

10.0

1.5

28

40

77

82

Technology

CNMC Goldmine

5TP

689

12.0

42.3

63

76

154

64

Materials & Resources

Bumitama Agri

P8Z

2,913

2.9

5.3

27

\-6

83

75

Consumer Non-Cyclicals

Hong Leong Asia

H22

2,185

4.8

7.4

22

81

51

46

Consumer Cyclicals

GRC

S3N

349

3.1

\-0.2

6

44

153

116

Industrials

Olam Group

VC2

3,299

4.3

\-34.2

\-9

\-20

3

63

Consumer Non-Cyclicals

ISDN

I07

172

0.3

1.1

\-3

2

24

146

Technology

China Sunsine

QES

615

1.0

1.9

\-19

30

48

86

Materials & Resources

Kep Infra Tr

A7RU

3,195

7.3

23.5

11

\-9

28

96

Technology

InnoTek

M14

155

1.4

4.2

2

\-2

59

97

Technology

Delfi

P34

568

1.5

5.4

16

\-1

8

75

Consumer Non-Cyclicals

Aztech Gbl

8AZ

625

0.7

2.5

24

\-5

18

71

Technology

Boustead

F9D

929

1.9

19.3

6

39

27

73

Industrials

Raffles Medical

BSL

1,840

1.9

\-3.7

\-2

20

3

99

Healthcare

Food Empire

F03

1,713

3.6

18.8

30

96

32

42

Consumer Non-Cyclicals

Pan United

P52

995

0.6

8.1

22

59

37

104

Materials & Resources

The Hour Glass

AGS

1,478

0.3

0.2

2

25

21

101

Consumer Cyclicals

Indofood Agri

5JS

565

0.1

0.4

9

2

16

164

Consumer Non-Cyclicals

Centurion

OU8

1,228

2.4

\-2.4

9

78

\-19

77

Real Estate (excl. REITs)

Wing Tai

W05

1,245

0.9

7.7

15

4

12

76

Real Estate (excl. REITs)

QAF

Q01

572

0.2

0.3

11

13

1

90

Consumer Non-Cyclicals

Banyan Tree

B58

529

0.6

\-3.6

\-2

28

47

92

Consumer Cyclicals

Tuan Sing

T24

400

0.5

0.3

\-2

3

20

190

Real Estate (excl. REITs)

BRC Asia

BEC

1,251

0.4

0.6

9

29

37

57

Industrials

Riverstone

AP4

1,060

2.7

\-6.8

\-16

\-35

32

70

Healthcare

Hong Fok

H30

705

0.6

3.9

5

\-9

12

69

Real Estate (excl. REITs)

_Note ADT refers to Average Daily Trading Turnover, NIF refers to Net Institutional Flow, TR refers to Total Return._   
_Sources: SGX, Avantis Investors. Market data as of 17 March, indicative ETF weights as of March 16._   
 

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