Another robust year expected for Singapore bond market

Improving prospects will lead to more spending, funding needs: fixed income bankers

Published Thu, Dec 21, 2017 · 09:50 PM

Singapore

THE Singapore bond market should remain buoyant in 2018 amid increasing economic activity and continuing momentum from a rousing 2017 that was the local debt market's best bar one since 2005.

Fixed income bankers point to overall improving economic prospects regionally and globally which will lead to more spending and funding needs.

At home, economists have raised 2017 full-year growth to 3.3 per cent, from a previous 2.5 per cent. They expect 2018 growth to be 3 per cent. The US has also been growing faster than expected and the Federal Reserve has lifted its growth estimate next year to 2.5 per cent from 2.1 per cent.

"Generally economic growth and sentiment continue to be quite firm and there will more capex (capital expenditure)…