SINGAPORE, Jan 4, 2026, 14:40 ET — Market closed
- Singapore’s economy grew 4.8% in 2025, its fastest pace since 2021, according to advance estimates. 1
- The Straits Times Index last closed up 0.2% at 4,656.12 on Jan. 2. 2
- UOB disclosed a fresh on-market share buyback; Wall Street ended Friday mixed as yields and the dollar firmed. 3
Singapore shares head into Monday’s open with a stronger domestic growth backdrop after official data showed the economy expanded 4.8% in 2025, lifted by a 5.7% rise in fourth-quarter GDP. 1
That matters now because the advance estimates set expectations for early-2026 policy and profit outlooks, with investors also watching whether export-driven sectors can extend momentum as global rates stay sticky. 4
The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) ended Friday’s session up 0.2% at 4,656.12, with traders likely to treat the 4,650 area as a near-term line in the sand ahead of the new week. 2
Overnight cues were steady but not uniform. The Dow rose 0.66% and the S&P 500 gained 0.19% on Friday, while the Nasdaq slipped 0.03%; the U.S. 10-year yield rose to 4.191% and the dollar index ticked higher. 5
Energy was a mild drag on inflation-sensitive sentiment. Brent settled at $60.75 a barrel and U.S. crude at $57.32 on Jan. 2, while OPEC+ kept output steady for the first quarter, Reuters reported. 6
In single-stock focus, United Overseas Bank said it bought back 39,000 shares on-market on Jan. 2 at S$35.10–S$35.41, cancelling the shares — a buyback is when a company repurchases stock to reduce share count. 3
Singtel may also draw interest after filing a release that its associate Globe Telecom and Singtel-owned NCS completed a joint venture in the Philippines, expanding “digital, cloud, data and AI services” capabilities via the combined platform. 7
On the macro beat, the growth surprise was driven by manufacturing clusters including electronics, and OCBC economist Selena Ling called 2025 a “stunning year,” in a Reuters report. 4
Investors are also weighing the policy runway. The Ministry of Trade and Industry’s current 2026 GDP forecast is 1% to 3%, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s next policy review is due later in January. 4
A key risk is that external demand cools faster than expected if trade frictions intensify, or if higher global yields and a firmer dollar tighten financial conditions for rate-sensitive sectors. 5
What’s next is a two-part test: the STI’s reaction to the GDP print at Monday’s open, and a global calendar packed with U.S. data, capped by next Friday’s U.S. payrolls report. 8
