Shares of Sitra Holdings (SGX:International Limited) closed at 0.009 yesterday. Sitra Holdings currently has a total float of 751.22M shares and on average sees 331,362 shares exchange hands each day. The stock now has a 52-week low of 0.006 and high of 0.011.

The Rising Giant SGX

Singapore Exchange (SGX), is the primary stock exchange platform in Singapore. All corporate stocks, bonds, derivatives, and exchange traded funds (ETFs) traded in one of Asia’s leading economies are traded through the SGX. It includes the shares of Sitra Holdings. Currently, it is among the very few leading stock exchange platforms in Southeast Asia.

A total of 768 publicly traded companies are listed on the SGX as of January 2009, 455 of which are domestic companies and 313 of which are international companies. The number continues to grow and the reason behind this is further explained below.

A Glimpse of History

Established on December 1, 1999, the SGX is the resulting merger of the Stock Exchange of Singapore and the Singapore International Monetary Exchange. These two stock exchange platforms were then the most reputable ones in Singapore. In 2000, SGX has gone public. It opened many new doors for Sitra Holdings.

Operation

Singapore Exchange Limited owns and operates the SGX. Its shares are also publicly traded through the SGX. The exchange stock is a component of two major indices: 1) MSCI Singapore Free Index; and 2) Strait Times Index (STI), which monitors the market performance of the top 30 SGX companies in terms of market capitalization.

The regular session on the SGX begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. This can extend until 5:05 p.m, with the market officially closing at 5:06 p.m. Meanwhile, the pre-market session lasts from 8:30 a.m. until 8:59 a.m.

Best-Performing SGX Companies

The best-performing companies listed on the SGX in the past five years include Thai Beverage Public Company Limited (SGX:Y92), which has generated a 216% return; Comfortdelgro Corporation Limited (SGX:C52), which has generated a 123% return; and SATS Ltd (SGX:S58), which has generated a 119% return. Return of Sitra Holdings is the key interest of investors.

More than 90 companies on the SGX have a market capitalization of more than S$1 billion. Given these compelling data, it is unquestionable why many investors are looking forward to trade on the SGX— be for the short-term or the long-term, and why many companies are looking forward to be listed on the SGX.

Singapore’s Good Corporate Governance

CG Watch, a biannual newsletter, has named Singapore as the best market in Asia in terms of corporate governance standards this year. The country has scored 67 points, beating Hong Kong by two points. In the previous list of CG Watch, Singapore has only scored 64 points, placing behind Hong Kong.

This latest feat further reflects the advantage of the SGX for investors and companies alike. With this, more companies are becoming more and more interested in being listed on the SGX. Similarly, more investors are attracted to trade assets on the SGX.

Competitive corporate governance encourages and reinforces investors’ confidence, boosting a country’s entire economy. This indicator is closely associated with foreign direct investment (FDI). Analysts have always reiterated that the key to an immense SE Asia’s economic growth is good corporate governance, which can translate into heightened FDI inflow. That being said, Singapore is surely leading the region’s economic growth.

Sitra Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the import and export of wood-based, lifestyle outdoor furniture, and other related products. The company has market cap of $6.76 million. It offers wood products, such as decking, flooring, fencing, door and window components, and other molded products in various designs, specifications, and dimensions under the Comcia and decKING brands; and lifestyle furniture products, such as outdoor garden furniture, garden accessories, and contract furnishings under the Pacific brand. It currently has negative earnings. The firm also engages in the importing, exporting, trading, and brokerage of various kinds of wood; and makes, supplies, and distributes wood and other related products.