Singapore stocks fell this week, with the STI down 0.12%.
In terms of individual stocks, China Aviation up over 11%; Bumitama Agri up over 10%; Wilmar Intl up nearly 9%. Prudential down over 10%; AvePoint down over 8%.
Market News
China Aviation Oil Could Benefit From Oil-Price Volatility in Near-Term
China Aviation Oil (Singapore) could benefit from oil-price volatility in the near term, UOB Kay Hian analysts say in a report. Recent gains in oil prices amid the Middle East conflict could help the jet fuel supplier's short-term profitability, the analysts say.
The company's business continues to benefit from ongoing recovery in Chinese air travel, the analysts say, citing data from Civil Aviation Administration of China. The brokerage raises its target price on the stock to S$2.63 from S$2.09 with an unchanged buy rating.
Singapore Disputes US Trade Surplus Data as New Tariffs Loom
Singapore said it ran a trade deficit with the US in 2024, disputing figures published by Washington that showed the city-state posted a surplus and challenging suggestions that it is contributing to global manufacturing overcapacity.
The dispute surfaced after the Office of the US Trade Representative announced this week that it had launched investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 into the acts, policies and practices of 16 economies, including Singapore. The probes are focused on structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.
Iran War Raises Inflation Risks, Tips Scales for MAS to Go for Stronger Singdollar in April: Economists
The escalating conflict in the Middle East and sharp rise in crude oil prices have tilted the odds in favour of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) tightening monetary policy at its review in April, analysts said.
Several economists now expect MAS to steepen the slope of the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate (S$NEER) policy band at the meeting, in what would be its first tightening move since October 2022.
The next monetary policy statement will be released on or before Apr 14.
RHB Bullish on DBS, OCBC, but Expects More Volatility in Banking Sector Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Singapore banks are expected to face a “modest operating environment” in the months ahead, although the recent rise in geopolitical tensions has likely injected further volatility into the sector’s outlook, said RHB in a Tuesday (Mar 10) note.
Against this backdrop, RHB named DBS and OCBC as its top picks, with DBS “slightly ahead” due to better dividend-per-share visibility and a higher dividend yield of about 6 per cent. It also said it prefers banks with stronger asset-quality metrics amid the uncertain environment.
Office Landlords Stand Out in S-Reits’ Q4 Beat, but the Drums of War Loom Heavy on FY2026
Singapore-listed real estate investment trusts (S-Reits) landed slightly ahead of expectations for the fourth quarter of the 2025 financial year, anchored by a fiercely resilient domestic commercial market and prudent capital management.
But beneath the headline beat lies a complex narrative of divergence. As the dust settles on the reporting season, a clear hierarchy of winners and laggards is emerging, driven by geographic exposure, asset class, and shifting macro currents ranging from interest rate relief to Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions.
Singapore’s Q2 Hiring Sentiment Brightens; 45% of Firms Expect to Raise Headcounts: Survey
Hiring sentiment across employers in Singapore rose for the second quarter of 2026, after two consecutive quarters of declines, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey released on Tuesday (Mar 10).
For the quarter, some employers in the city-state recorded improved hiring sentiment, which is quantified using the metric of net employment outlook, or the difference between the percentage of employers planning to raise headcounts and those planning reductions. This was according to the survey of over 530 employers in Singapore.
The seasonally adjusted net employment outlook for Q2 stood at 24 per cent, an improvement of 10 points from the previous quarter and a decline of three points from the year-ago period, as employers forecast staffing changes amid anticipated hiring increases driven by company expansion.