For the five trading sessions spanning March 6 to March 12, institutions were net sellers of Singapore stocks, with net institutional outflow of S$156 million, taking the accumulated net outflow for 1Q26 to Mar 12 to S$304 million.Stocks that saw the highest net institutional outflow over the five sessions included DBS Group Holdings, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings, Genting Singapore, UI Boustead REIT, Singtel, Oversea‑Chinese Banking Corporation, CapitaLand India Trust, CapitaLand Ascendas REIT, UOL Group, and ComfortDelGro CorporationMeanwhile, Hongkong Land Holdings, Singapore Technologies Engineering, Wilmar International, United Overseas Bank, Singapore Exchange, Seatrium, AEM Holdings, Keppel, UMS Integration, and DFI Retail Group led the net institutional inflow.  Share Buybacks SurgeOver the five sessions, 30 primary-listed companies conducted buybacks with a total consideration of S$65 million. The 20 of the 30 stocks that filed the largest buyback considerations are tabled. Stoneweg Europe Stapled Trust also bought back units, as did secondary-listed Hongkong Land Holdings.  Director TransactionsOver the five sessions, close to 80 director interests and substantial shareholdings were filed for more than 40 primary-listed stocks. Directors or CEOs reported 16 acquisitions and one disposal, while substantial shareholders recorded five acquisitions and one disposal. This included CEO or director acquisitions filed for BRC Asia, Centurion Accommodation REIT, Centurion Corporation, Geo Energy Resources, IFS Capital, Megachem, Nera Telecommunications, QAF, Raffles Medical Group, Sunmoon Food Company, and Tai Sin Electric. On March 9, Raffles Medical Group Executive and Non-Independent Director Sarah Lu Qinghui increased her deemed interest by 100,000 shares at an average price of S$0.99 per share. Dr Lu maintains a 3.43 per cent total interest in the Group and has been on the Board since February 2018.  Centurion: CEO and Chairmen Continued Buying Following ResultsExecutive Director and Joint Chairman David Loh Kim Kang and Non-Executive Director and Joint Chairman Han Seng Juan continued increased their interests. On March 9, Mr Loh acquired 200,000 shares at an average price of S$1.39 apiece. This increased his total interest from 60.00 per cent to 60.02 per cent, following an increase from 59.82 per cent over the preceding five sessions. Between March 9 and March 12, Mr Han acquired 764,800 shares at an average price of S$1.40, increasing his total interest from 55.90 per cent to 55.99 per cent.  QAF Managing Director Share Purchase Amid Profit UpswingsOn March 9, QAF joint group managing director and executive director Lin Kejian acquired 69,500 shares, increasing his total interest to 39.50 per cent from 39.51 per cent. The shares were acquired at an average price of S$0.96 apiece. For its 2HFY25 (ended December 31) profit attributable to the owners of the parent increased 62 per cent from 2HFY24 to S$35.9 million, despite comparable revenue, and largely attributed to a foreign currency translation gain in 2HFY25 compared to foreign currency translation loss in 2HFY24. While Bakery segment contributed over 70 per cent of 2HFY25 revenue, the Philippines and Malaysia both contributed more than 40 per cent and more than 10 per cent respectively of FY25 revenue. The Group is maintaining focus on strengthening its competitive position through its core brands, selective product launches and regional growth, while mitigating margin pressure via product mix and operational efficiencies, supported by a strong balance sheet. Tai Sin Electric CEO Increases StakeBetween March 6 and 10, Tai Sin Electric executive director and CEO Bernard Lim Boon Hock acquired 170,700 shares at S$0.51 per share. This increased his total interest in the industrial group from 18.23 per cent to 18.27 per cent. Mr Lim has gradually increased his total interest in the company from 14.82 per cent at the end of 2019. Founded in 1980, Tai Sin Electric has evolved into a regional cable manufacturer listed on the SGX Mainboard, supplying a full range of high‑quality electrical cables from plants in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam to industrial, commercial, residential and infrastructure projects across both the public and private sectors.For its 1HFY26 (ended December 31) profit attributable to shareholders fell 53.1 per cent from 1HFY25 to S$7.4 million, despite a 20 per cent rise in revenue, reflecting margin pressure rather than demand weakness. The decline was driven mainly by an S$11.8 million provision for onerous contracts following higher copper prices, alongside lower gains from subsidiary disposals, partly offset by a bargain purchase gain from the acquisition of renewable energy subsidiaries.Tai Sin Electric maintain that while copper price volatility and supply‑chain constraints remain pressures, the Group is focused on execution and selective growth in Southeast Asia, supported by resilient domestic demand, digital infrastructure investment and renewable energy development. Beng Kuang Marine Completes S$5M Placement to Support Working CapitalBeng Kuang Marine completed a placement of new shares on March 10, with the share listed on March 11, following its initial announcements on February 26. Under the placement, the company allotted and issued 15,625,000 new ordinary shares at an issue price of S$0.32 per share, raising gross proceeds of approximately S$5.0 million. Following the issuance, the company’s issued share capital increased by approximately 7.5 per cent. Beng Kuang Marine undertook the proposed placement to raise funds for working capital purposes. The directors stated that the placement would improve liquidity to support ongoing business operations. The group operates across infrastructure engineering and corrosion prevention, with a core focus on maintenance, upgrading and life‑extension work for FPSOs and FSOs. According to the American Bureau of Shipping, more than half of the global FPSO fleet is over 30 years old, supporting sustained demand for asset integrity, maintenance and life‑extension services as the fleet continues to age. As at end of FY25, Beng Kuang Marine had serviced 23 FPSOs and one FSO, and by prioritising shorter‑term contracts with faster turnover, it aims to improve operational visibility and earnings stability amid industry forecasts for a steady FPSO project pipeline into the late 2020s.On February 26 Beng Kuang Group also announced plans subject to shareholder approval to acquire the remaining stake in Asian Sealand Offshore and Marine Pte Ltd for S$60 million, taking full ownership of a business that provides high‑value, mission‑critical offshore lifecycle services, including asset life extension, regulatory compliance and operational reliability for floating production assets.   Serial Achieva Raises S$4.6M at Premium to Support Balance Sheet and GrowthCatalist-listed Serial Achieva is a distributor of consumer and enterprise IT products with operations in Malaysia and Thailand, partnering brands such as MSI, Intel, Gigabyte, AMD and ViewSonic to offer products ranging from desktop CPUs and motherboards to VGA cards and gaming laptops. The Group has entered into a share subscription agreement with UFCT Technology Cor for the issuance of 21.0 million new ordinary shares at a subscription price of S$0.22 per share, raising approximately S$4.6 million in gross proceeds. The subscription price represents a 21.55 per cent premium to the volume‑weighted average price of the shares on 10 March 2026. Following completion, the new shares will represent approximately 11.01 per cent of the enlarged issued share capital. Net proceeds are intended to be used for loan repayment (40 per cent) and working capital (60 per cent). The subscriber is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shannon Semiconductor Technology Coa Shenzhen‑listed electronic components distributor and is subject to a six‑month restriction on the disposal of the subscription shares.The Group recorded a lower net loss of US$0.2 million in 2HFY25 (ended December 31), compared with US$0.9 million in 2HFY24, mainly due to higher gross profit from improved margins despite lower sales, supported by higher foreign exchange gains.Guided by its 2026 theme of strengthening capabilities and creating opportunities, this year Serial Achieva aims to broaden its customer base, diversify revenue sources and enhance operational efficiency and talent development, while actively managing external risks through disciplined inventory and credit practices. Lendlease Global Commercial REIT Advances Preferential Offering ProcessOn March 10, Lendlease Global Commercial REIT has despatched the Instruction Booklet and Application and Review on to entitled unitholders in connection with its underwritten, non‑renounceable preferential offering to raise S$196.6 million, marking the formal commencement of the offering and enabling unitholders to accept their provisional allotments and apply for excess new units by March 18. The preferential offering will be used to fund a 30 per cent acquisition in PLQ Mall and repay debt at the Lendlease REIT level, with the combined transaction expected to be DPU‑accretive while keeping pro forma aggregate leverage at around 38 per cent.<table><tbody><tr><td>Share Buybacks by Primary-listed Companies by way of Market Acquisition (Mar 6 to Mar 12) with Largest Consideration </td><td>Number of Shares/Units Purchased </td><td>Buyback Consideration (incl stamp duties &amp; clearing charges) S$ </td><td>Avg price paid per share S$</td></tr><tr><td>KEPPEL </td><td>1,500,000</td><td>18,105,360</td><td>12.07</td></tr><tr><td>SINGAPORE TECHNOLOGIES ENGINEERING </td><td>1,000,000</td><td>10,785,990</td><td>10.79</td></tr><tr><td>SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS </td><td>1,995,000</td><td>9,908,595</td><td>4.97</td></tr><tr><td>UNITED OVERSEAS BANK </td><td>190,000</td><td>6,847,566</td><td>36.04</td></tr><tr><td>SINGAPORE EXCHANGE </td><td>300,000</td><td>5,251,036</td><td>17.50</td></tr><tr><td>SATS </td><td>944,700</td><td>3,433,560</td><td>3.63</td></tr><tr><td>SINGAPORE AIRLINES </td><td>500,000</td><td>3,312,520</td><td>6.63</td></tr><tr><td>GENTING SINGAPORE </td><td>4,100,000</td><td>2,761,694</td><td>0.67</td></tr><tr><td>SEATRIUM </td><td>860,000</td><td>1,982,664</td><td>2.31</td></tr><tr><td>HONG FOK CORPORATION </td><td>1,304,600</td><td>1,070,561</td><td>0.82</td></tr><tr><td>VENTURE CORPORATION </td><td>30,000</td><td>457,844</td><td>15.26</td></tr><tr><td>SIA ENGINEERING COMPANY </td><td>83,600</td><td>259,429</td><td>3.10</td></tr><tr><td>PAN-UNITED CORPORATION </td><td>120,000</td><td>165,122</td><td>1.38</td></tr><tr><td>THE HOUR GLASS </td><td>72,300</td><td>164,263</td><td>2.27</td></tr><tr><td>COMFORTDELGRO CORPORATION </td><td>101,400</td><td>144,176</td><td>1.42</td></tr><tr><td>GLOBAL INVESTMENTS </td><td>1,052,500</td><td>134,537</td><td>0.13</td></tr><tr><td>KIMLY </td><td>295,000</td><td>114,018</td><td>0.39</td></tr><tr><td>HOCK LIAN SENG HOLDINGS </td><td>221,100</td><td>88,509</td><td>0.40</td></tr><tr><td>INTRACO </td><td>227,200</td><td>86,468</td><td>0.38</td></tr><tr><td>KINGSMEN CREATIVES </td><td>102,800</td><td>56,295</td><td>0.55</td></tr><tr><td>KARIN TECHNOLOGY HLDGS </td><td>186,900</td><td>49,997</td><td>0.27</td></tr><tr><td>OXLEY HOLDINGS </td><td>610,000</td><td>48,750</td><td>0.08</td></tr><tr><td>FRASER AND NEAVE </td><td>25,800</td><td>36,426</td><td>1.41</td></tr><tr><td>ATTIKA GROUP </td><td>89,000</td><td>34,558</td><td>0.39</td></tr><tr><td>A-SONIC AEROSPACE </td><td>53,000</td><td>26,942</td><td>0.51</td></tr><tr><td>CSC HOLDINGS </td><td>1,200,000</td><td>16,853</td><td>0.01</td></tr><tr><td>OCEAN SKY INTERNATIONAL </td><td>300,000</td><td>13,580</td><td>0.05</td></tr><tr><td>SARINE TECHNOLOGIES </td><td>30,000</td><td>6,256</td><td>0.21</td></tr><tr><td>GHY CULTURE &amp; MEDIA HOLDING CO </td><td>5,000</td><td>753</td><td>0.15</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>17,499,900</td><td>65,364,324</td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table> Inside Insights is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.Enjoying this read?<ul><li>Subscribe now to our SGX My Gateway newsletter for a compilation of latest market news, sector performances, new product release updates, and research reports on SGX-listed companies.</li><li>Stay up-to-date with our SGX Invest Telegram and WhatsApp channel. </li></ul>

For the trading period from March 6 to March 12, institutions sold a net S$156 million in Singapore stocks, totaling S$304 million in outflows for 1Q26. Notable outflows were seen in DBS Group and Singtel, while inflows were led by Hongkong Land and UOB. Additionally, 30 companies executed buybacks totaling S$65 million, and significant director transactions were reported, including acquisitions by executives from Centurion and QAF. Tai Sin Electric's CEO increased his stake amid profit declines, and Beng Kuang Marine completed a S$5 million share placement for working capital.

HONG KONG LAND

HongkongLand USD

Institutional Outflows Persist, as Buybacks Sustain and Insiders Accumulate