Singapore Lowers Barriers to Physical Gold
Singapore has introduced its first fully insured and locally vaulted physical gold fund, a development that strengthens the city-state’s position as a global financial and precious-metals hub.
The LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund, launched through a partnership between Singlife and Lion Global Investors (LGI), offers institutional-grade bullion access to retail and policyholder portfolios – a structure designed to meet rising demand for diversification and long-term inflation protection, according to a media release issued on Tuesday.
Backed exclusively by physical gold bars meeting the London Bullion Market Association’s Good Delivery standards, the fund provides investors with exposure to the metal’s price performance while avoiding the logistical costs and security risks associated with private storage.
Transparent Tracking
All holdings are securely vaulted and insured in Singapore, and the fund seeks to closely mirror the LBMA Gold Price AM benchmark to ensure transparent tracking of the global reference price.
The fund’s availability across Singlife’s ILPs aims to allow policyholders to incorporate physical gold exposure within long-term insurance-linked savings and retirement plans.
Digital Access
According to Stanz Tan, Head of Investments and Wealth at Singlife, this option supports «diversification, wealth preservation, and growth» as market dynamics evolve. Digital access is a central part of the rollout: via GROW and dollarDEX, investors can add gold to their portfolios with minimal entry amounts.
Lion Global Investors CEO Teo Joo Wah emphasized that Singapore’s reputation as a trusted financial and gold-trading centre makes it an ideal base for a fully backed physical gold fund.
The initiative, he said, allows gold exposure to be «simpler and more secure for policyholders and investors alike» and aligns with long-term structural demand for the metal.
Institutional Framework Behind
Standard Chartered Bank serves as custodian, trustee, fund administrator, transfer agent, and gold provider – consolidating oversight under a single institution with deep experience in precious metals operations. This structure is intended to reinforce governance, asset protection, and operational efficiency for investors seeking institutional-grade safeguards.
Anchored by partners including OCBC, MariBank, and Great Eastern, the launch aligns with Singapore’s SG60 anniversary and leverages the nation’s renewed ambitions in wealth management and gold custody.
This consortium-driven approach highlights the fund’s role in shaping a more comprehensive precious-metals market accessible to retail and institutional investors.
