OREANDA-NEWS. The FTSE ST Telecommunications Index is made of Singapore Telecommunications, StarHub and M1. Of the three members, Singapore Telecommunications and StarHub are the two Straits Times Index (STI) stocks representing the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index . The Index had generated a 8.4% total return in the year thus far with a market capitalisation of S\$71.2 billion. As of Friday close, M1 had maintained a year-to-date total return of 14.8%, followed by Singapore Telecommunications with 9.0% and StarHub with -0.7%.

In terms of relative performance of the sector indices relevant to the STI, the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index was the best performing index in July and the least performing sector in August. While the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index has generated a 8.4% total return in the year thus far- the index outperformed the STI in five of the first 11 months of the year, and underperformed the STI in the other six months. In the December month thus far, the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index has performed marginally higher than the STI.

The different monthly price performances of the FTSE ST Indices relevant to the STI starting with January 2014 and carrying through until 19 December 2014 are illustrated in the chart below. Please do note that FTSE ST Sector Indices do not include STI representation such as FTSE ST Technology, FTSE ST Utilities and FTSE ST Basic Materials are not included in the chart.

The two Straits Times Index (STI) Stocks representing the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index are Singapore Telecommunications and StarHub. These two STI Stocks are also the two largest capitalised stocks in the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index and hence have the most impact on its performance.

The two largest constituents of the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index, Singapore Telecommunications and StarHub make up approximately 92.53% of the net market capitalisation of the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index. Hence, as expected they have also maintained the highest correlations to the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index of the two STI Stocks in recent months. As noted in the table below, Singapore Telecommunications is currently 99.68% correlated to the moves of the FTSE ST Telecommunications Index, and StarHub maintaining a lower correlation of 37.16%.

Singapore Telecommunications

Singapore Telecommunications provides multimedia and infocomm technology solutions in Singapore and Australia. It provides a diverse range of services to meet the communications needs of consumers and businesses, including wireless broadband, data communication, IT disaster recovery services and handset insurance and related services. On 13 November 2014, the company reported that revenue for the half year ended 30 September 2014, increased 0.01% year-on-year, to S\$8,457.0 million. Singtel has a market capitalisation of S\$61.54 billion and generated 2014 year-to-date total return of 9.59%. The stock went ex-dividend on 19 December 2014, distributing S\$0.068 per share in dividends.

StarHub

StarHub is an info-communication company delivering a range of information, communications, and entertainment services for consumer and corporate markets in Singapore. On 5 November 2014, the company reported that revenue for the quarter year ended 30 September 2014, increased 2.3% year-on-year, to S\$592.0 million. StarHub has a market capitalisation of S\$6.98 billion and generated 2014 year-to-date total return of 0.32%. The stock went ex-dividend on 11 November 2014, distributing S\$0.05 per share in dividends.