In response to the letter “Amend legislation to ensure board independence soon” (Dec 30), David Gerald, President and CEO of Securities Investors Association (Singapore) (SIAS) noted that its research with SMU’s Sim Kee Boon Institute for Financial Economics showed that last year, 58 per cent of listed companies had a board on which at least half of the directors were independent. With a trend moving towards having at least half the board being independent directors, Mr Gerald hoped that more firms would improve on the composition so that they can be encouraged to better ensure board independence.