7 in 10 Singapore Retail Investors Bet on Chip Stocks for AI Gains
Source: The Independent Singapore
Nearly 70% of Singapore retail investors are betting on semiconductor and chipmaker stocks to capture AI-driven gains, according to an eToro survey. The bullish sentiment comes as Singapore's electronics exports nearly doubled in May, driven by surging AI demand for integrated circuits.
Singapore retail investors are piling into semiconductor and chipmaker stocks at record levels, with nearly seven in ten now allocating capital to the sector in pursuit of artificial intelligence-driven returns. The finding comes from an eToro survey conducted by Opinium across 13 countries, which polled 11,000 retail investors including 1,000 Singapore respondents.
The data shows 68% of Singapore retail investors are betting on semiconductor and chipmaker firms to capture AI gains, while 39% are investing in large technology platforms integrating AI, and 35% in AI-first companies. Investor optimism about AI stocks is also rising, with 51% expecting prices to increase, up from 49% in the first quarter. Technology remained the top intended investment sector for the fourth consecutive quarter, with tech holdings rising to 57% from 54% in Q4 2025.
The confidence is not without foundation. Singapore's electronics non-oil domestic exports jumped 94.8% year-on-year in May, following a 66.7% increase in April, driven by higher AI demand for integrated circuits, disk media, and personal computers. eToro market analyst Zavier Wong noted that a visible pipeline of developments involving companies such as SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic later this year could continue to draw investor attention, even against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty.
Remarkably, 36% of respondents actually increased their investment allocation despite economic uncertainty, while 58% kept their portfolios steady — only 6% reduced exposure. Geopolitical risk remained the top concern, though the share of investors citing international conflict as their biggest external risk fell to 26% from 34% in Q1, followed by concerns over the global economy (25%) and inflation (24%).
Why it matters for Singapore: The eToro data paints a picture of a retail investor base that is not just cautiously optimistic about AI, but actively reshaping its portfolio strategy around the theme. Combined with the export data showing electronics nearly doubling, it signals that the AI-driven economic transformation is being felt at both the institutional and household level in Singapore. The key question is whether this retail conviction can withstand geopolitical shocks or a correction in semiconductor valuations.