Singapore’s stock market raced to new highs in June 2026. Yet, over the past decade, the local market’s returns have lagged the US stock market’s. Then again, should investors even bother with businesses located half a world away? So here’s the thing: if you add up the value of all the businesses listed on the US stock market, it would be close to US$75 trillion, making it the world’s largest stock market. Because the US is the world’s biggest economy, its stock market is home to a far larger universe of businesses that provide more stocks for investors to consider. Still, there are merits to investing in the local market. For starters, it boasts the largest real estate investment trust (REIT) market in Asia outside Japan and is increasingly becoming a global REIT hub. The Singapore market also has a vibrant financial sector anchored by prominent local banks that have delivered strong – and at times, superior – shareholder returns compared with their US peers....