There's more on Singapore investors' minds than what the Fed does next about rates

Singapore

EXPECTATIONS of rising US interest rates could have a muted impact on Singapore markets, as domestic and regional issues play a larger role in guiding investment decisions, analysts said on Monday.

They gave a mostly-measured reception to Monday's selldown, which they took to be an overdone, knee-jerk reaction.

The Straits Times Index (STI) shed one per cent, or 28.22 points, to close at 2,829.43. The Singapore dollar fell by 0.7 per cent to 1.3617 against the US dollar. The three-month Singapore Interbank Offer Rate (Sibor) stayed flat at 0.87 per cent; the three-month swap offer rate (SOR) fell to about 0.71 per cent.

Investors had sold off risk assets following remarks by US Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen during…