Singapore central bank to ease corporate bond buys for retail investors

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is looking at ways to give retail investors greater access to corporate bonds in an effort to widen their investment choices, The Straits Times reported.

MAS Managing Director Ravi Menon said on Thursday that low interest rates as well as increased affluence and sophistication have spurred investors to seek better returns from financial investments.

The MAS plans to review how retail access to fixed-income products can be improved, which would involve making it easier for issuers to offer bonds to retail investors, while maintaining sufficient safeguards.