Daily Debrief: What Happened Today

Layoffs in Singapore down quarter on quarter in Q1, but up from Q1 last year

While layoffs eased from 5,370 in the previous quarter to 4,600 in the first quarter of 2016, the number was higher than a year ago (3,500), according to a preliminary report released on Thursday morning by the Ministry of Manpower.

S$500m venture debt programme launched for high-growth SMEs

Spring Singapore on Thursday launched a S$500 million Venture Debt Programme with DBS, OCBC and UOB to support high-growth enterprises.

Resale prices of completed condos, apartments in Singapore down 1% in March

Resale prices of completed condominium units and apartments in Singapore fell one per cent in March, compared with the previous month.

Ex-banker in Singapore faces 2 more charges in 1MDB-linked case

Singapore charged a former wealth manager at Swiss-based private bank BSI with cheating and obstructing justice on Thursday in a case related to a money laundering investigation linked to Malaysia's embattled 1MDB investment fund. Yeo Jiawei, a 33-year-old Singaporean, was arrested last month, and initially charged with receiving ill-gotten funds.

Singapore can overcome 'productivity trap' via regional expansion: DBS

Singapore can overcome its "productivity trap" by expanding regionally and tapping higher growth elsewhere, said DBS economists Irvin Seah and Ma Tieying in a report released on Thursday.

LTA to call tenders for North-South Corridor, targets 2026 completion

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will be calling tenders in the coming months for the construction of the 21.5-kilometre North-South Corridor, which is expected to be completed around 2026.

URA launches sale tender for residential site at Martin Place

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched on Thursday a sale tender for a residential site at Martin Place under the Confirmed List of the first-half 2016 Government Land Sales Programme.

Corporate Earnings

The STI Today

Singapore shares close lower; STI hit by triple whammy, down for fifth straight day

The US Federal Reserve lived up to expectations when it kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday but the Bank of Japan didn't when it held off on expanding its monetary stimulus on Thursday, a surprise development that sent the Nikkei 225 diving 3.6 per cent.