Temasek Holdings increased its investments in the year ended in March to the highest since the global financial crisis, even as weaker markets in Asia slowed the growth of its portfolio, which touched a record S$223 billion ($179 billion).

Singapore's state-investment company invested S$24 billion, up 20% from the preceding year, as it capitalised on opportunities from an uneven global economic recovery, according to its latest annual report released Tuesday. The investments were in companies including Asian insurer AIA Group, US cancer-treatment specialist Gilead Sciences and UK bank Lloyds Banking Group. The amount invested was the most since Temasek spent S$32 billion in the year ended March 2008, when it bought stakes in companies including Merrill Lynch.