Singapore, January 28, 2026, 15:02 SGT — Regular session
- OCBC shares slipped roughly 0.6% in afternoon trading, having earlier hit a 52-week peak.
- The bank launched a securities lending programme using Citi’s platform, seeking to expand its fee-based offerings.
- Thursday’s MAS policy review and OCBC’s full-year results on Feb. 25 are in the spotlight.
Shares of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) slipped 0.6% to S$21.29 by 2:38 p.m. Singapore time on Wednesday, retreating from an earlier peak of S$21.42, which marked a 52-week high. 1
The slide matters since Singapore banks have increasingly relied on non-interest income amid falling benchmark rates. Phillip Securities Research noted December’s 3-month SORA, a key funding rate in Singapore, hit 1.21%, its lowest in 41 months. They expect the rate to drop further as the U.S. Federal Reserve continues cutting. 2
With the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s quarterly policy review looming, economists are dissecting signals on inflation and growth. OCBC chief economist Selena Ling noted that “official rhetoric may be beginning to tilt…to a slightly more hawkish tone,” despite expectations that the central bank will keep its current settings unchanged. 3
OCBC revealed a new securities lending programme using Citi’s Securities Lending Access platform. The scheme allows clients to lend out idle shares to institutional borrowers in exchange for fees. “Securities lending brings benefits such as higher trading volumes, price discovery and market efficiency,” said Kenneth Lai of OCBC. 4
The bank announced the programme is currently available to OCBC Securities customers trading U.S. and Hong Kong shares. It plans to roll it out to Bank of Singapore clients in 2026, beginning with equities in Singapore, Hong Kong, the U.S., and Japan. Citi’s Mridula Iyer commented that the platform integration would “introduc[e] a significant new pool of untapped securities to the lending market.” 5
RHB Bank Singapore bumped up its price target on OCBC to S$21.30 from S$18.70 after a meeting with management. The broker expects the bank’s Feb. 25 results to come in line with guidance. RHB projects FY2025 earnings at S$7.4 billion and noted investors will focus on the dividend announcement and any hints from the new CEO about 2026 priorities. 6
Yet with the stock hitting new highs, the margin for error shrinks. Any quicker-than-anticipated margin squeeze, a dip in wealth fees following a recent surge, or a shift in credit conditions—particularly in commercial real estate—could challenge the bullish outlook.
OCBC ended Tuesday at S$21.42, rising 1.8% and holding close to this week’s highs within a narrow range. 7
OCBC will report its full-year 2025 results on Feb. 25, marking the next major event on the calendar. Investors are eager for updates on net interest margin and fee growth, as well as any hints on whether the bank plans to maintain its generous capital returns following the recent jump in its share price. 8
