In the year-to-date, the 12 FTSE ST Sector Indices that cover the 161 stocks of the FTSE ST All Share Index have generated returns that ranged from 44.8% for Real Estate Holding & Development to -19.6% for Consumer Goods Index. The FTSE All Share Index has gained 15.9% over the period. Sorted by best performing FTSE ST Sector index, the largest stocks of each sector index are currently as follows:

1. The Real Estate Holding & Development Index has gained +44.8% in the year-to-date. The biggest three stocks of the Index are Hongkong Land Holdings (H78), CapitaLand (C31) and Global Logistic Properties (MC0) which are all categorised to the Real Estate Investment & Services Sector by the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB). In the year-to-date the three stocks have gained +47.4%, +54.8% and +52.1% respectively.
2. The Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) Index has gained +31.1% in the year-to-date. The biggest three REITs of the Index are CapitaMall Trust (C38U), Ascendas REIT (A17U) and CapitaCommercial Trust (C61U). In the year-to-date the three trusts have gained +21.2%, +25.7% and +46.0% respectively. This does not take into account dividend distributions.
3. The Financials Index has gained +28.6% in the year-to-date. The biggest three stocks of the Index are DBS Group Holdings (D05),Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (O39), United Overseas Bank Ltd (U11) which are all categorised as Banks by the ICB.  In the year-to-date, the three locally incorporated banks have gained +22.2%, +16.2% and +19.8% respectively. The FTSE ST Financial Index also includes the stocks of the Real Estate Holding & Development Index and the REIT Index.
4. The Industrials Index has gained +22.5% in the year-to-date. The biggest three stocks of the Index are Jardine Matheson Holdings (J36), Jardine Strategic Holdings (J37), and Fraser & Neave (F99) which are all categorised as General Industrials by the ICB.  In the year-to-date, the three stocks have gained +26.7%, +27.6% and +48.2% respectively.
5. The Oil & Gas Index has gained +16.1% in the year-to-date. The biggest three stocks of the Index are Keppel Corp (BN4), SembCorp Marine (S51) and SembCorp Industries (U96) which are all categorised as Oil Equipment, Services & Distribution by the ICB.  In the year-to-date, the three stocks have gained +9.1%, +14.1% and +23.2% respectively.
6. The Utilities Index has gained +8.5% in the year-to-date. The biggest three stocks of the Index are Hyflux (600), Gallant Venture (5IG) and United Envirotech (U19) which are all categorised as Gas, Water & Multiutilities by the ICB.  In the year-to-date, the three stocks gained +9.1%, +12.5% and +15.4% respectively.
7. The Telecommunications Index has gained +4.3% in the year-to-date. The three stocks of the Index are Singapore Telecommunications (Z74), StarHub (CC3), M1 (B2F) which are all categorised as Mobile Telecommunications by the ICB.  In the year-to-date, the three stocks have gained +2.6%, +24.7% and +4.8% respectively.
8. The Technology Index has gained +1.7% in the year-to-date. The biggest three stocks of the Index are LionGold Corp (A78), CSE Global (544) and DMX Technologies Group (5CH). In the year-to-date, the three stocks generated mixed performances of +19.5%, +13.3% and -10.6% respectively. Liongold is categorised as Technology Hardware & Equipment by the ICB while CSE Global and DMX Technologies Group are categorically sectored to Software & Computer Services.
9. The Consumer Services Index has marginally declined -0.8% in the year-to-date. The biggest three stocks of the Index are Jardine Cycle & Carriage (C07), Genting Singapore PLC (G13) and Singapore Airlines (C6L). In the year-to-date, the three stocks generated mixed performances of -2.0%, -18.2% and +3.2% respectively. Jardine Cycle & Carriage is categorised as a General Retailer by the ICB while Genting Singapore PLC and Singapore Airlines Ltd are categorised to the Travel & Leisure sector.
10. The Basic Materials Index has declined -4.6% in the year-to-date. The biggest three stocks of the Index are Midas Holdings (5EN), XinRen Aluminum Holdings (MN5), Li Heng Chemical Fibre Technology (E9A).  In the year-to-date, the three stocks have gained +13.6%, +12.5% and +14.6% respectively. Midas Holdings and XinRen Aluminum Holdings are categorised as Industrial Metals & Mining by the ICB while Li Heng Chemical Fibre Technology is categorically sectored to Chemicals.
11. The Health Care Index has declined -10.1% in the year-to-date. The biggest three stocks of the Index are IHH Healthcare Bhd (Q0F), Biosensors International Group (B20) and Raffles Medical Group (R01) which are all categorised as Health Care Equipment & Services by the ICB.  In the year-to-date, the three stocks generated mixed performances of +15.0%, -23.1% and +14.6% respectively.
12. The Consumer Goods Index has declined -19.6% in the year-to-date. The biggest three stocks of the Index Wilmar International (F34), Golden Agri-Resources (E5H) and Olam International Ltd (O32) which are all categorised as Food Producers by the ICB.  In the year-to-date, the three stocks have declined -36.6%, -14.0% and -12.0% respectively.

Grouping stocks by sectors is a practice that may assist investors spread portfolio risk and potential return across different industries.  For up-to-date information on the width and depth of the sectors that are represented by stocks listed on Singapore Exchange, investors can visit the Markets Tab at My Gateway here.

Source: SGX My Gateway