Singapore Retail Investors Bet on AI Chips as Tech Holdings Hit 57% of Portfolios
Source: Singapore Business Review
Singapore retail investors are piling into semiconductor and AI chip stocks, with tech now making up 57% of portfolios as electronics exports surge 95%. An eToro report shows 68% of investors are confident in the local economy, while 51% expect AI-related stock prices to keep climbing this year.
Singapore's retail investors are backing AI with their wallets. Semiconductor and chipmaker stocks have become the top vehicle for capturing AI-led gains, according to eToro's latest retail investor report, as technology holdings climbed to 57% of portfolios for the fourth consecutive quarter.
The finding lands against a remarkable backdrop for Singapore's electronics sector. Non-oil domestic exports (NODX) surged 94.8% year-on-year in May, driven by AI chip demand that shows no sign of slowing. Large technology platforms integrating AI followed chips as the second-most popular investment pick at 39%, while pure-play AI companies were cited by 35% of respondents.
Confidence in the local economy remains high at 68%, with 51% of Singapore retail investors expecting AI-related stock prices to increase through the rest of 2026—up from 49% in Q1. The eToro survey tracks a shift in how Singaporeans view AI: not just as a workplace tool or a policy talking point, but as a tangible driver of portfolio returns.
The enthusiasm comes with caveats. The same cohort of investors has shown wariness about trusting AI for financial decisions—Nine in 10 Singapore investors told HSBC in a separate July survey that they still distrust AI for key investment choices. The eToro data suggests retail investors are happy to bet on AI companies but remain cautious about letting AI make decisions on their behalf, a split that mirrors the broader tension between AI adoption and governance in Singapore's financial sector.
Why it matters for Singapore: The surge in AI chip investing reflects Singapore’s deepening role in the global semiconductor supply chain. With electronics exports nearly doubling and retail portfolios tilting heavily toward tech, the city-state is experiencing a grassroots AI investment boom that reinforces its position as Southeast Asia’s most AI-exposed economy—both in industry and in the portfolios of everyday investors.