Singapore, Jan 23, 2026, 15:15 (SGT) — Regular session.
- Shares of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding slipped roughly 1.2% in afternoon trading, adding to losses from Thursday
- Shares trail as Singapore’s benchmark index hits a new peak, driven by bank gains
- Traders are focused on the March earnings report for insights into new ship orders and profit margins
Shares of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Ltd dropped again on Friday, slipping further despite gains in Singapore’s wider market. By 3:10 p.m. local time, the stock had fallen 1.2% to S$3.34. (SG Investors)
The Straits Times Index (STI) — Singapore’s main benchmark — hit a record high earlier on Friday, driven by gains in bank stocks. UOB and OCBC spearheaded the rally, pushing the index up roughly 1.4% at its peak, according to The Business Times. (The Business Times)
Yangzijiang’s split is grabbing attention because it’s a major industrial player in the STI. Lately, it’s been bucking the broader risk-on trend. The stock has dropped about 3% in the last two sessions.
Yangzijiang slipped 2% to S$3.38 on Thursday, marking it the weakest performer among STI constituents, despite the broader index gaining ground. Mathieu Racheter, Julius Baer’s head of equity strategy research, noted, “For now, markets appear comfortable re-engaging with risk as the probability of near-term escalation diminishes.” (The Business Times)
Shares kicked off Friday at S$3.38, then fluctuated between S$3.30 and S$3.38, with volume hitting roughly 12.6 million. The stock remains close to the upper edge of its 52-week range. Next earnings report is set for March 4. (Investing)
The upcoming earnings release stands out as the next key event. Investors will zero in on new ship orders, a crucial indicator of future revenue streams, and watch closely to see if profit margins remain steady as deliveries roll out.
Cross-currents abound. Shipbuilding is cyclical, with earnings prone to sudden shifts if new orders falter, delivery times lag, or input costs rise.
The downside is straightforward: should order momentum falter or if management signals caution on pricing, the stock could quickly pull back after its strong rally into year-end. This week’s action hints some investors are already dialing back risk.
Macro factors may continue to weigh on the outlook. Singapore’s core inflation rose 1.2% year-on-year in December. The Monetary Authority of Singapore is set to release updated inflation forecasts alongside its monetary policy statement on Jan. 29. (Reuters)
