SINGAPORE - More companies uploaded the minutes of their annual general meetings (AGMs) held in April to SGXNet this week, in line with stock exchange rules requiring such records to be published within one month of the meeting.

The filings come amid growing demand from shareholders and market watchers for AGMs to become more relevant for retail shareholders rather than just an ‘annual general makan’, a long-running stereotype that portrays such meetings as opportunities for free buffet meals, The Straits Times reported.

Analysts said improving the quality and accessibility of AGMs as an avenue for company-shareholder engagement is important as regulators seek to boost liquidity and address undervaluation in the local stock market.

However, most AGMs are held on weekday mornings or afternoons and are clustered heavily around the April 30 deadline for companies with December financial year-ends, making it difficult for working shareholders to attend sessions.

The other issue is transparency, with most AGMs remaining closed to the media, limiting timely reporting for shareholders unable to attend.

Both OCBC Bank and United Overseas Bank reported first-quarter earnings supported by rising demand for wealth management services this week.

Strong growth in wealth management boosted OCBC Bank’s non-interest income to a new high in the first quarter, helping to offset a decline in interest income as a result of lower interest rates.

This helped lift OCBC’s total income by 5 per cent over 1Q2025 to $3.83 billion, while net profit for the period rose 5 per cent to $1.97 billion.