Singapore, Jan 12, 2026, 14:49 SGT — Regular session.
- OCBC shares rose about 1% in afternoon trade, hovering near a 52-week high.
- Singapore bank stocks have led early-2026 gains as investors focus on dividends and rate expectations.
- Traders are watching U.S. inflation data due Jan. 13 and OCBC’s full-year results later in February.
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC) shares climbed 1.1% to S$20.01 on Monday, lifting the SGX:O39 stock back above the round-number S$20 level in afternoon trade. The stock touched S$20.02 and is not far from its 52-week high of S$20.25. (Futunn)
The move keeps the bank in the spotlight after a strong first week for Singapore equities, with investors leaning into lenders for income. With interest rates expected to ease further in 2026, dividend yields above 5% have helped banking stocks, The Straits Times reported, while Morningstar’s Lorraine Tan called UOB “the most attractive pick” on yield at current valuations. The paper said markets were also looking to U.S. December inflation data on Jan. 13 for clues on the rate path. (The Straits Times)
Headlines around Venezuela and oil prices have added another layer of noise for regional markets, but OCBC’s own research played it down. Ada Lim, an investment research analyst at OCBC Bank, said in a report that a U.S. intervention in Venezuela was expected to have “limited” short-term impact on Singapore equities, pointing to a more diversified local market and Singapore’s role as a regional safe haven. (Futu News)
OCBC’s gain came as other Singapore bank heavyweights also traded higher. DBS was at S$57.89, up about 0.5% from its prior close, while UOB traded at S$36.15, about 0.4% higher.
For traders, the story is still rates and payouts. Dividend yield is the annual dividend as a share of the stock price — useful when investors want cash returns, not just price gains. If yields fall quickly, banks can face pressure on net interest margin, the gap between what they earn on loans and pay on deposits.
That is the catch. A sharper drop in rates can squeeze margins, and a wobble in credit conditions would hit provisions. A lot of good news is already sitting in the price after the early-year run, leaving less room for disappointment if earnings or guidance fail to land.
The next hard catalyst is OCBC’s full-year 2025 results, due on Feb. 25, according to the bank’s financial calendar, with the date flagged as indicative. Traders will be looking for signals on dividends, capital returns, loan growth and any shift in guidance for margins and credit costs; the bank’s calendar also points to first-quarter results on May 8.
