Singapore, Jan 20, 2026, 15:28 SGT — Regular session
- Shares of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding slipped in afternoon trading
- Singapore equities remain under pressure amid renewed tariff concerns
- Traders are watching for central bank signals from Asia and Singapore scheduled later this month
Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Ltd (BS6.SI) shares slipped 0.6% to S$3.50 in Tuesday afternoon trade, after moving within a range of S$3.48 to S$3.53. The stock last closed at S$3.52 and has fluctuated between S$1.80 and S$3.75 over the past year. 1
The pullback hit as global markets grew cautious once more, triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump reigniting tariff threats linked to his bid to acquire Greenland. Investors had been shifting toward safe havens, with stocks and the dollar easing in Asian trading. 2
Singapore’s market got a sharp jolt Monday, showing how fast sentiment can shift. Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, described it as “a risk engine hitting a pothole at speed” after the Straits Times Index dipped 0.3%. 3
Freight indicators told a different story. The Baltic Dry Index, which tracks rates for shipping bulk goods like iron ore and coal, climbed 5.3% on Monday, hitting 1,650. Some investors watch this closely as a potential signal for future ship demand. 4
Tuesday’s action felt more like position-trimming than a decisive sector move. Shipbuilding is cyclical, and the market can swing quickly from “tight slots” to “no rush” depending on shifts in trade and funding assumptions.
The broader “Yangzijiang” group caught the spotlight as Yangzijiang Maritime Development, listed separately, announced plans to request shareholder approval for a buyback mandate covering up to 10% of its issued shares. Executive Chairman and CEO Ren Yuanlin noted buybacks might be deployed “when our share price may not reflect the intrinsic value of the Company.”
Yangzijiang Shipbuilding manufactures commercial vessels including containerships, oil tankers, and bulk carriers. The company also operates a shipping division that generates income from charters, according to its profile. 5
The risk is straightforward. Should tariff threats turn into reality, global trade volumes could drop, prompting shipowners to postpone or renegotiate orders. Freight markets tend to spike suddenly but can just as quickly lose momentum.
Investors are zeroing in on upcoming policy cues that could move rates, currencies, and risk appetite: the Bank of Japan convenes Jan. 22-23, the Federal Reserve meets Jan. 27-28, and Singapore’s MAS plans to issue its January monetary policy statement by Jan. 30. 6
