Performance and Growth FINANCIAL MARKET ACTIVITY Growth in Asset and Wealth Management Singapore is a major regional centre for asset management in the Asia Pacific. Funds managed in Singapore totalled S$572.6 billion as at end 2004. Singapore has become a leading asset management centre as a result of various advantages: socio-political stability, sound economic fundamentals, a robust and efficient legal and judicial framework, a well-regulated international financial sector, and the ready pool of talent and expertise. Singapore is today home to more than 30 of the top 50 US and European fund houses. Singapore’s asset management industry is very international, with 70% of discretionary assets under management (AUM) sourced from outside of Singapore. Over the past decade, Singapore’s asset management industry has registered 28% average annual growth in AUM. As at end 2004, there were over 1,000 investment professionals in Singapore. Many asset management companies have expanded their services in Singapore to include more than just portfolio management. They have set up research arms, regional trading desks, and centralised their middle and back office functions here.