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SGX cuts board lots to 10 shares for DBS, OCBC, UOB as push to widen retail participation deepens

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Lower entry costs will open the door to more investors, but understanding what they buy matters more than ever, says Singapore and Regional CEO, Longbridge Securities

SINGAPORE, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Retail investors can now buy shares of DBS, OCBC and UOB in lots of 10 instead of 100, after the Singapore Exchange’s (SGX) smaller board lot sizes took effect on Monday (5 October). The change cuts the minimum capital needed to own some of the market’s most traded stocks by 90%.

The first 11 counters to qualify are DBS Group, OCBC, UOB, Keppel, Singapore Exchange, Jardine Cycle & Carriage, Jardine Matheson, Great Eastern, Haw Par, Venture Corporation and Prudential. Together, they accounted for about 35% of SGX trading activity in the first half of 2026, according to the exchange.

Under SGX’s revised framework, stocks priced above S$10 and up to S$100 trade in lots of 10 shares, while those above S$100 will trade in lots of a single share. None of the first 11 falls into the single share category. Once a stock’s lot size is reduced, it stays reduced even if its price later falls.

SGX will review eligibility every quarter. The next review, based on closing prices from July to December 2026, takes place in January 2027, with changes taking effect in February.

For a stock trading at S$40, a standard lot now costs about S$400 before fees, compared with S$4,000 previously.

Part of a wider push

The move is the latest in a series of measures to strengthen Singapore’s equity market following the Equities Market Review Group’s final report in November 2025.

As of 29 September 2026, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) had allocated S$5.4 billion of its S$6.5 billion Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP) to 14 asset managers. The latest batch added Amundi, Franklin Templeton, HSBC Asset Management, M&G and Natixis.

MAS has also committed S$20 million under the Grant for Equity Market Singapore (GEMS) to support market making in around 80 small and mid-cap stocks, as well as new listings, until the end of 2028. In its financial year ended June 2026, SGX welcomed 21 new listings.

“Cheaper to access, not cheaper to own”

Industry players say the board lot change addresses a long-standing practical barrier for retail investors, but caution that lower minimums do not change what a stock is worth.

“The cost of access has just fallen by 90%. The cost of a poor decision has not,” said Mr Gavin Chia, chief executive of Longbridge Securities Singapore and regional CEO.

“This is not a stock split. A stock that is expensive at 100 shares is just as expensive at 10. What has changed is how easily investors can get in, not the investment case.”

Mr Chia, who entered the industry about two decades ago when Singapore shares commonly traded in lots of 1,000 units, said the bigger benefit was flexibility. SGX cut the standard lot from 1,000 shares to 100 in 2015.

With smaller lots, investors with modest capital can spread their money across several companies, build positions gradually and keep cash in reserve, he said. That could matter particularly for those building dividend portfolios around Singapore’s banks and blue chips.

But he warned of a new temptation. “Smaller lots should lead to more deliberate portfolios, not more scattered ones. The risk is buying a little of everything without knowing why you own any of it.”

Investors should also note that minimum commissions charged by some brokers can weigh more heavily on smaller trades, making costs a larger share of each purchase.

What investors should check first

Mr Chia said five questions still apply whatever the lot size:

What drives the company’s earnings, and are they sustainable?How is it valued against its own history and its peers?How reliable is the dividend, and what could put it at risk?What are the key risks, from interest rates to regulation?How does the position fit with the rest of the portfolio?

From capital to judgement

Twenty years ago, individual investors faced two main barriers: limited access to information and high minimum capital, Mr Chia noted. Technology has largely removed the first, and SGX has now lowered the second for some of the market’s most traded stocks.

“What remains is understanding,” he said. “Investors today are surrounded by earnings reports, analyst notes and social media commentary. The challenge is no longer finding information but making sense of it.”

Brokers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to help investors do that. Longbridge, which is headquartered in Singapore and licensed by MAS through Longbridge Securities Singapore, launched its AI-native investing platform in July. Its assistant, Longbridge AI, analyzes and answers plain language questions about stocks and shows the reasoning and sources behind each answer.

“AI can help an investor work through those questions in minutes rather than days,” said Mr Chia. “But the principle matters as much as the technology. AI proposes, and the investor decides. Its purpose should be better judgement, not more trading.”

He added that easier access does not remove investment risk, and that the industry has a responsibility to match wider participation with better understanding.

“If the last decade was about lowering the price of entry to Singapore’s market, the next should be about raising the quality of participation,” he said. “Smaller board lots open the door. Judgement is what keeps investors in the room.”

What changed on 5 October 2026

Board lot: cut from 100 shares to 10 for SGX stocks priced above S$10 and up to S$100, and to one share for stocks above S$100.First 11 stocks: DBS Group, OCBC, UOB, Keppel, Singapore Exchange, Jardine Cycle & Carriage, Jardine Matheson, Great Eastern, Haw Par, Venture Corporation and Prudential.Not a stock split: share prices and company valuations are unchanged.Next changes: SGX reviews eligibility quarterly, with the next batch taking effect in February 2027.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute investment advice. This article is attributed to Gavin Chia, Singapore and Regional CEO, Longbridge Securities

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/sgx-cuts-board-lots-to-10-shares-for-dbs-ocbc-uob-as-push-to-widen-retail-participation-deepens-302901854.html

SOURCE Longbridge Group

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Best AI Visibility & GEO Agency (2026): Nicely Network Awarded by Software Experts

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NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Software Experts has named Nicely Network the Best AI Visibility & GEO Agency for 2026. The editorial assessment examined the agency’s work across organic Reddit campaigns, AI-SEO article placements, Google rankings and generative search. It also reviewed reported outcomes across ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Google AI Overview and Perplexity.

Nicely Network uses two publishing channels to create source material for search engines and AI platforms. Its team develops Reddit discussions around high-intent buyer questions and produces expert-authored content for high-authority editorial placements. Campaign reporting covers views, rankings, AI citations, clickthroughs and tracked sales.

How the Best AI Visibility & GEO Agency Review Assessed Performance

Software Experts based its assessment on four areas documented in Nicely Network’s service model and campaign reporting:

Search presence: Whether discussions and editorial articles rank for the queries buyers use when researching products and services.AI visibility: Whether ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Google AI Overview and Perplexity reference the resulting source material.Commercial measurement: Whether campaigns report traffic, conversions and tracked sales alongside visibility metrics.Delivery model: Whether campaign volume, monitoring and publishing channels can be adjusted for different markets and objectives.

Nicely Network reports generating more than 15,000 AI citations and 200 million views on ranked discussions. The agency has worked with more than 300 brands, including Fortune 500 companies, across software, travel, beauty, consumer products, home, health and wellness, and cybersecurity.

A Dual-Channel Model for Generative Engine Optimisation

Generative Engine Optimisation, or GEO, requires material that can be discovered, indexed and retrieved when an AI platform assembles an answer. Nicely Network addresses that process through Reddit marketing and editorial publishing.

On Reddit, the agency develops organic discussions around questions that prospective customers are already asking. Campaigns target suitable communities, introduce brand information within the conversation and support published threads through monitoring. Posts are structured around search terms that can also appear in Google results.

The editorial program provides a second source type. Nicely Network produces articles based on each brand’s keyword map and publishes them through high-authority editorial placements. These pages can appear in Google Search and Google News while giving answer engines additional published material to assess.

For Software Experts, this dual-channel structure helped distinguish Nicely Network as the Best AI Visibility & GEO Agency. It treats LLM optimisation as a publishing and distribution discipline, rather than limiting the work to changes on a company’s own website.

Why Reddit and Editorial Sources Matter to AI Engines

Reddit threads preserve questions, responses and community feedback in a format that search and retrieval systems can process. When a discussion ranks for a buyer query, it can supply an AI platform with language drawn from the way people research and compare products.

Editorial articles serve a different purpose. They provide structured coverage of a category, service or purchasing question on established publishing domains. When Reddit discussions and editorial pages address related queries, an AI engine has multiple source types available when preparing a response.

Nicely Network reports that more than 2,000 of its discussions have ranked at the top of Google. Its published article program has earned more than 2,000 AI citations and generated more than $100 million in tracked sales through AI-SEO optimised placements.

This measurement framework connects the work of a Reddit marketing agency with that of an AI-SEO agency. Rankings and AI citations establish whether the material is being discovered, while views, clickthroughs and tracked sales provide evidence of what happens after discovery.

Case Studies Connect GEO Work With Traffic and AI Citations

The media kit includes campaign results from several industries without disclosing client names.

For a global B2B software company, Nicely Network produced 24 buying guides published through high-authority editorial placements. The articles generated more than 60,000 views and more than 12,500 clickthroughs. AI citations for the company tripled, with references appearing across four AI engines.

A finance campaign used an always-on Reddit and editorial program over 14 months. The work generated more than 400 AI citations and was designed to compound into a long-term AI search asset.

In health and wellness, a four-month program reached the number-one level for AI visibility within its category. AI mentions grew by 200% during the campaign period.

These cases cover different timelines and publishing mixes, but each uses the same reporting principle. The agency tracks the source material it publishes, where that material ranks, whether AI engines reference it and whether users proceed to a website or purchase.

Engagement Plans Scale From Initial Testing to Category Coverage

Nicely Network offers three engagement levels based on campaign duration and publishing volume.

The Starter plan ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 per month for one to three months. It includes five to 15 Reddit discussions, two to five AI-SEO articles and standard monitoring. At the $5,000 level, brands choose either five Reddit discussions or two articles. Larger budgets can include both channels.

The Growth plan ranges from $15,000 to $30,000 per month for three to six months. It includes 15 to 40 Reddit discussions, five to 10 AI-SEO articles and advanced monitoring. The media kit lists this as the recommended plan for sustained results.

The Leadership plan ranges from $30,000 to $60,000 per month with a custom duration. It includes 40 to 80 Reddit discussions, 10 to 30 AI-SEO articles and pro monitoring. Enterprise engagements are also available for agencies managing multiple brands and companies operating across several categories or markets.

Why Nicely Network Was Named Best AI Visibility & GEO Agency

“AI visibility is most useful when a marketing team can show where an answer came from and what happened after a reader clicked,” said the Software Experts editorial team. “Nicely Network’s reporting framework connects generative discovery with rankings, traffic and tracked revenue.”

Software Experts concluded that Nicely Network provides a measurable GEO agency model for companies that want visibility across conventional search, community discussions and AI-generated answers. Its use of Reddit and editorial publishing creates multiple forms of retrievable source material, while its reporting covers both visibility and commercial outcomes.

On that record, Software Experts named Nicely Network the Best AI Visibility & GEO Agency for 2026.

About Nicely Network

Nicely Network is an AI visibility and Reddit marketing agency serving companies across software, travel, beauty, consumer products, home, health and wellness, cybersecurity and other industries. The agency creates organic Reddit campaigns and expert-authored editorial placements designed to support Google rankings, AI citations, reputation and conversions. More information is available at nicelynetwork.com.

To read the full report on Software Experts, click here: https://softwareexperts.org/nicely-network-awarded-best-ai-visibility-geo-agency/

About Software Experts

Software Experts provides editorial coverage of software, digital services and technology providers for business audiences. Its reports examine service models, use cases and available performance evidence to help readers compare providers.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/best-ai-visibility–geo-agency-2026-nicely-network-awarded-by-software-experts-302901984.html

SOURCE SoftwareExperts.org

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Discover Deakin 2026 Begins in India – Deakin University’s flagship annual student engagement brings a sharper focus on confident future choices

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NEW DELHI, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Deakin University’s flagship student engagement initiative, Discover Deakin, returns to India this October with a renewed focus on helping students and families make informed and confident decisions about their university journey, careers and future in Australia.

Held under the theme ‘Decide your uni with confidence at Discover Deakin,’ the 2026 edition brings together Deakin academics, current students, alumni and specialist support teams to give prospective students a comprehensive view of the Deakin experience, from choosing the right course and understanding career pathways to accommodation, employability, student support and life in Australia.

This year, Austrade has joined the program to give students and parents a broader perspective on Australia as a study destination and the opportunities available to international students. As Australia’s trade and investment promotion agency, Austrade supports Australia’s international education engagement. Study Melbourne, which supports international students with a lens on Melbourne as a study destination, will join the Bengaluru session, further enriching the conversation around studying and living in Australia.

Here is a look at the schedule for Discover Deakin 2026 sessions:

3 October (Sat) – Chandigarh | Hyatt Regency, Satluj7 October (Wed) – New Delhi | Le Méridien, Inspire10 October (Sat) – Bengaluru | Conrad, Junior Ballroom10 October (Sat) – Kochi | Holiday Inn, Periyar13 October (Tue) – Mumbai | Novotel Mumbai, Burgundy15 October (Thu) – Hyderabad | Hyatt Palace, MP-1 & 217 October (Sat) – Chennai | Pullman, Vana

To register for a Discover Deakin Session in your city, please visit Discover Deakin 2026

Ravneet Pawha, Vice President (Global Engagement) and CEO (South Asia), Deakin University, said, “Choosing a university is an important decision for students and families. At Deakin, we want students to have the confidence that comes from asking the right questions, hearing directly from those who have experienced university life and understanding where their education can take them.”

“Discover Deakin 2026 brings that experience to life. With Austrade and Study Melbourne joining us this year, students and parents can gain a broader perspective on studying in Australia while connecting directly with our faculty, students, alumni and support teams. Our aim is simple. We want to help every student make an informed choice and take their next step with confidence.”

What can students and families expect

Discover Deakin is designed to bring the university closer to students, giving them and their families a clearer window into what lies ahead and the information they need to make informed decisions about international study. From understanding Australia as a study destination and experiencing life at Deakin to exploring courses, careers, employability and student support, students can hear directly from the people who can help them understand what their university journey could look like.

More than an opportunity to gather information, Discover Deakin is about helping students ask the right questions, explore what is possible and find the pathway that is right for them. Through conversations with current students, alumni, faculty and specialist teams, they can gain practical insights and personalised guidance on courses, careers, scholarships and life in Australia, leaving with greater clarity about their choices and confidence about taking their next step.

A key strength of Discover Deakin is the opportunity for prospective students and parents to hear directly from those who have experienced the Deakin journey.

Students at the Discover Deakin session in New Delhi yesterday looked forward to information and valuable conversations with the Deakin faculty to make better course choices. Samnik Ahlawat is currently pursuing humanities and aims to explore higher studies in either nursing or psychology. Present at the New Delhi session, he said, “I am at this session to learn more about my options and what will suit me best if I want to study abroad. A successful pathway to studying in Australia is what I am seeking.”

Samnik’s family attended the session along with him. They said, “Nowadays children decide what they want to do in future. We are just here to support them. I am here to find out details about safety, security, accommodation and opportunities. I look forward to speaking to a Deakin Student Services representative to clear my doubts.”

By bringing together academic expertise, first-hand student and alumni perspectives, personalised admissions guidance and a broader Australia-focused conversation, Discover Deakin 2026 aims to provide students and families with the information, connections and confidence to make informed choices about their future.

The initiative builds on Deakin University’s long-standing engagement with India and its commitment to supporting Indian students through every stage of their international education journey, from choosing the right course to building skills, networks and experiences for global careers.

About Deakin University

Established in 1974, Deakin University has grown to become one of Australia’s most progressive and globally connected institutions. Deakin is recognised for its balance of excellence in education and research with a clear focus on creating real-world outcomes that benefit communities locally and globally.

Deakin has maintained a strong relationship with India since 1994, with its engagement spanning students, alumni, academic partnerships, research, industry and broader Australia–India connections.

With four campuses across Australia, Deakin offers over 300 industry-relevant courses, designed to equip students with the skills and experiences they need for future success.

To know more, please visit www.deakin.edu.au.

 

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HIZENERGY Presented Full-Stack C&I Energy Storage Solutions at Two European Exhibitions in September

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HEFEI, China, Oct. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In September, HIZENERGY took part in two influential energy exhibitions across Western and Southeast Europe, showcasing its self-developed commercial and industrial (C&I) battery energy storage portfolio to local EPC contractors, distribution partners and end customers.

At the Sustainable Solutions Kortrijk exhibition, HIZENERGY featured core products including the PCS-125K and PCS-460K power units, together with the liquid-cooled ES125kW-261/313kWh-LE storage system. Compliant with IEC and VDE European grid connection codes, the hardware supports wide-temperature operation from -30 °C to 60 °C, alongside VSG grid-forming capability and black-start functions. The products also meet European GDPR and NIS2 data security requirements. The EnerBox liquid-cooled cabinet occupies only 1.7 m² of floor space, utilising long-life LFP cells with over 8,000 charge-discharge cycles and multi-level fire safety mechanisms. HIZENERGY addressed two distinct market requirements: compact, rapidly deployable equipment for small and medium-sized commercial sites, and high-power, cluster-expandable systems for large industrial parks. On-site teams analysed real-world return-on-investment models based on operational overseas projects and secured multiple letters of intent for cooperation.

From 24 to 26 September, HIZENERGY attended the Romania ENERGY EXPO. Dr Wang Fei shared insights during an industry roundtable, stating that C&I BESS serves as a flexible strategic asset to boost energy security, unlock economic benefits and accelerate local decarbonisation for factories, agricultural sites and industrial zones. Driven by mandatory local energy storage policies in Romania and neighbouring regions, HIZENERGY delivers customised, field-proven solutions instead of generic standard packages. Its systems support flexible capacity expansion via parallel-connected PCS units and fast on-site commissioning, suitable both for retrofits of existing facilities and new industrial park developments.

Multiple HIZENERGY storage systems are already in operation across Europe, covering PV-storage-charging integration at building material plants, agricultural microgrids and power arbitrage use cases. Following its “technology-driven product plus localised service” strategy, the company offers 24/7 online technical support, resident regional engineers, local spare parts inventory and custom warranty packages to provide end-to-end full lifecycle support for European partners.

For more information, visit: https://en.hizenergy-ess.com/

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