FX.co ★ Singapore Stocks Hit Record High

The Straits Times Index (STI) climbed 48 points, representing a 1.0% increase, reaching a historic high of 4,877 during Friday morning trade. This surge built upon the previous session's momentum, driven by a continued rally on Wall Street, buoyed by optimistic U.S. economic data and a reduction in geopolitical tensions. Robust macroeconomic indicators have bolstered investor sentiment, highlighted by preliminary estimates indicating that the economy expanded by 4.8% last year, an improvement from 2024's figures. Additionally, non-oil domestic exports saw a 4.8% increase in 2025, surpassing the official projection of approximately 2.5%. Investors are now looking ahead to the Monetary Authority of Singapore's quarterly monetary policy statement next week for further policy insights, while also anticipating the release of December's inflation figures later today, with market expectations set at 1.2%. The index's gains were primarily driven by strong performances in the consumer and financial sectors, with standout increases from United Overseas Bank (3.6%), Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (2.6%), CapitaLand Investment (1.3%), Hongkong Land Holdings (1.2%), and Keppel (1.0%).