Singapore, Feb 25, 2026, 09:42 SGT — Regular session
- Early trading saw the Straits Times Index dip 0.2% to 5,009.38, following Tuesday’s close at 5,020.79.
- Genting Singapore tumbled 8.2%—the stock reacting to a 30% slide in second-half profit. Sembcorp lost 2.2% on its own profit decline.
- OCBC put banks back in the spotlight, warning that a rate cut could take a bite out of interest income, but said 2026 total income should hold steady or even rise.
Singapore stocks slipped in early Wednesday trading, as the Straits Times Index (STI) edged down 0.2% to 5,009.38, according to Investing.com data. For a short stretch, the STI fell under 5,000, trading between 4,995.51 and 5,016.48 right out of the gate.
The STI’s biggest names are still dropping results, which keeps the pullback in focus—especially as the market hovers near cycle peaks. Banks, utilities, and some large industrials have been propping up the index, so just a couple of earnings misses can spark quick shifts.
Singapore traders face the same two issues gripping Asia — where interest rates are headed, and fresh swings in U.S. trade policy. Lower rates usually tighten banks’ lending margins here. Ongoing trade jitters? Those tend to chill credit appetite and weigh on business sentiment.
Genting Singapore slipped early, falling S$0.065, or 8.2%, to S$0.725. The casino operator’s net profit for the second half dropped 30% to S$155.6 million, despite a 5% bump in revenue to S$1.24 billion. The company pointed to continued spending on the Resorts World Sentosa “RWS 2.0” upgrade as a drag on cash flow and its balance sheet. The Business Times
Sembcorp Industries shares slipped S$0.14, down 2.2% to S$6.16 not long after the open, as the utilities group posted a 5% decline in net profit for the second half, coming in at S$448 million. Weaker results from gas and related services dragged on earnings, though renewables and integrated urban solutions provided some support, the company said.
Singapore Post weighed on sentiment after posting third-quarter operating profit down 38.3% to S$3.8 million, blaming ongoing drops in both letter mail and cross-border e-commerce. Revenue skidded 26.8% to S$92.3 million, according to the company.
OCBC took the spotlight after posting results overnight. The bank laid out expectations for total income to stay flat or rise into 2026, even as it signaled net interest income could edge down—pressure from rate cuts likely to squeeze margins. CEO Tan Teck Long struck a “cautious yet positive” note, citing ongoing geopolitical and trade risks. Net interest margin dropped to 1.86% for the quarter, down from 2.15% a year earlier. Reuters
UOB echoed the sentiment earlier this week, highlighting prospects across its “ASEAN 4” markets, despite mounting macro risks. “The market is very uncertain,” CEO Wee Ee Cheong said during a briefing following a 7% drop in fourth-quarter profit. Reuters
STI slipped 0.4% on Tuesday, closing at 5,020.79 as all three of Singapore’s local banks registered losses—UOB led declines, sliding 4.1% to S$37.20. “The tariff backdrop had turned ‘more ambiguous … than it was a week ago,’” said Saxo Markets’ Neil Wilson, who added this shift could weigh on capital flows. The Straits Times
Overnight markets picked up, buoyed by tech’s comeback on Wall Street and some swerves in Washington’s tariff plans keeping traders guessing. Investors are eyeing a fresh round of U.S. earnings—high-profile names on deck—with AI-driven stocks still carrying global risk sentiment.
But the risks are clear enough. A fresh hike in Washington’s tariffs, or a miss on global tech earnings, tends to hit Singapore’s open, trade-heavy market fast. Local banks’ results are already highlighting just how much tighter lending margins can drag on profits.
Next up for investors: more corporate earnings on the docket, plus Nvidia’s quarterly numbers set for 2:00 p.m. PT on Feb. 25 (0600 SGT on Feb. 26). That’s a closely watched report, often shaping risk appetite across Asia.
