Singapore, Jan 27, 2026, 14:54 SGT — Regular session
- Singtel climbed 2.2% to S$4.56 in afternoon trading, with around 16.5 million shares changing hands
- The STI climbs past 4,900, hitting a new peak as major index leaders push higher
- Attention turns to this week’s U.S. Fed decision and Singapore’s MAS policy statement
Shares of Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) climbed 2.2%, hitting S$4.56 by roughly 2:40 p.m. in Singapore. The stock had closed Monday at S$4.46. Trading ranged from S$4.49 to S$4.57, with around 16.5 million shares exchanged.
Singtel followed the broader surge in Singapore shares as the Straits Times Index climbed past 4,900, hitting a fresh peak in early trading. Banks drove the advance, and Singtel stood out as one of the busiest stocks on the board.
Timing is crucial. Traders are bracing for a packed week ahead in rates and currencies, with the Federal Reserve set to announce its decision midweek and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) revealing its semi-annual policy review on Thursday.
The Fed is set to meet on Jan. 27-28, with most expecting a pause in rate hikes. Markets will be focused on the language for clues about future moves. Any unexpected signals on inflation or the timing of cuts could swiftly impact global bond yields and stock prices.
Singapore’s MAS is forecast to keep policy steady at its Jan. 29 meeting, a Reuters poll shows. Still, investors will focus on fresh inflation projections and any shifts in the central bank’s tone on the Singapore dollar. Unlike many peers, MAS manages policy via the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate (S$NEER), a trade-weighted currency band, not through interest rates.
The Singapore dollar hit its highest point against the U.S. dollar since late 2014 on Monday, then gave back a bit of that gain. This move adds more complexity for investors trying to read local policy cues.
Some strategists see Singapore equities riding their own tailwinds, separate from global rate moves. UOB Kay Hian’s John Cheong, Heidi Mo and Tang Kai Jie say the market’s strong run could extend, backed by policy support and the launch of the Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP). The EQDP is designed to boost liquidity in local stocks.
Singtel, a major player in the index, often moves in line with shifts in risk appetite and policy outlook. This pattern becomes especially clear when trading volume clusters around a few key blue-chip stocks.
But things could unravel quickly if the Fed hints at a prolonged tight stance, or if MAS turns out more hawkish than anticipated. Markets sensitive to rates could unwind sharply. Singtel hasn’t been immune to jitters either, facing ongoing investor concerns over regulatory and operational scrutiny tied to its Australian unit Optus, especially after last year’s network outages.
The next hurdle is coming up fast: the Fed’s decision following the Jan. 27-28 meeting, then the MAS on Thursday, Jan. 29, releasing its policy statement and updated forecasts.
