Singapore Exchange Limited - Phillip Securities 2018-01-22: Performance Supported By Derivatives Products

SINGAPORE EXCHANGE LIMITED S68.SI

Singapore Exchange Limited - Performance Supported By Derivatives Products

SGX's 2Q18 PATMI was in line with our estimates. 2Q18 SDAV was 4% higher but poor SDAV performance in December was a drag.
Equity, FX and commodity derivatives volume was strong despite a weak trading environment globally.
Securities clearing fee spreads were down due to higher trading volumes by MMLPs and higher composition of products such as ETFs and DLCs.
Derivatives average fee per contract decreased due to higher trading volumes from trading members.

Maintain ACCUMULATE with higher Target Price of S$9.00 (previous Target Price S$8.31) based on DCF.

Despite a weak trading environment globally, SGX managed to grow its derivatives revenue. The improved performance is attributed to stronger flows into Asian emerging markets in which SGX is the gateway.

2Q18 had 289 bond listings raising S$103.5bn compared to 204 bond listings raising S$89bn in 2Q17. SGX also saw its first listing of Indonesian bonds (Komodo bonds) in the quarter.

The increase is due to higher reported data usage and from continued growth of SGX’s colocation services business.

2Q18 average clearing fee for Equities was 2.93 bps, lower than 2Q17’s 2.97 bps. The average-clearing fee for Other products was 0.51bps, lower than 2Q17’s 0.86bps.
The lower average clearing fee was due to increase in trading of warrants, ETFs and DLCs and higher trading volumes by Market Makers & Liquidity Providers (MMLP) as these market participants generally pay lower clearing fees.

2Q18 average fee per contract was S$1.07, lower than 2Q17’s S$1.16 and 1Q18’s S$1.13.
The decline has been attributed to the growth in volumes from trading members who enjoy lower rates on the derivative contracts.

Contract processing revenue led the decline in the segment with a 63% y-o-y decrease from S$3mn to S$1.1mn as brokers are migrating to their own back office systems. Brokers are expected to complete the migration by 3Q18.
In another segment of Post Trade Services, the Securities settlement revenue declined 9% y-o-y because of a change in the mix of securities settlement instructions.

SGX will be launching Indian Single Stock Futures (SSFs) in February 2018 in addition to its existing Nifty 50 Index Futures. We believe SGX is expanding its product mix as foreign use of Indian domestic derivative products through Offshore Derivative Instruments (ODIs) also known as participatory notes (P-Notes) will be phased out. Therefore, foreign market participants are expected to clamour for Indian financial derivatives available in offshore platforms such as SGX and Dubai Gold and Commodity Exchange.
SGX will be implementing the Dual Class Shares (DCS) and the rules for DCS are expected to be out by June 2018. Shortly thereafter, the first company with DCS is expected to be listed.
SGX has initiated a Euro Medium Term Note programme to boost its war chest further by S$1bn to S$2bn.
We believe that SGX will be looking for acquisitions to reinforce its derivatives and fixed income businesses and even venture into the private market space. FY18e operating expense guidance has improved to between S$410mn to S$420mn from previous guidance of S$425mn to S$435mn due to lower fixed costs.

Maintain ACCUMULATE with higher Target Price of S$9.00 (previous Target Price S$8.31) based on DCF.

Jeremy Teong Phillip Securities | http://www.poems.com.sg/ 2018-01-22

Phillip Securities SGX Stock Analyst Report ACCUMULATE Maintain ACCUMULATE 9.00 Up 8.310