Daily Debrief: What Happened Today

Singapore sees modest labour demand, moderate wage rises in 2016

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower expects labour demand in the country to be modest and wages to rise at a more moderate pace in 2016. Layoffs will continue to pick up in sectors facing weak external demand and undergoing restructuring.

Standardised B1 Integrated Shield Plan available from May

The new standardised Integrated Shield Plan (IP) targeted at Class B1 wards in public hospitals will be available to Singaporeans from the five IP insurers from May this year.

Developers sell 301 private homes excluding ECs in Feb, down from 323 in Jan

Developers in Singapore sold 301 private homes in February 2016, down from 323 units in January 2016 and 390 units in February 2015.

Hot stock: Tat Hong leaps to 11-month high after flagging potential takeover offer

Shares of crane rental company Tat Hong Holdings shot up to their highest point in at least 11 months on Tuesday after it said in the morning that it was considering a potential takeover offer.

Singapore retail sales up 7.5% in Jan on surge in car sales

A 50.9 per cent year-on-year spike in motor-vehicle sales again drove up Singapore's retail sales in January 2016 - this time by 7.5 per cent.

IDA, Spring and CMT collaborate to boost last-mile delivery to retailers

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), Spring Singapore and CapitaLand Mall Trust (CMT) Management have signed a memorandum of intent (MOI) to launch an In-Mall Distribution (IMD) trial at Tampines Mall and Bedok Mall.

The STI Today

Singapore shares close weaker in low volume ahead of US FOMC meeting

The Straits Times Index (STI) on Tuesday dropped 7.62 points to 2,839.44 but the more important statistics were volume done - 1.8 billion units worth S$994 million, figures more reminiscent of the quiet days of 2015 than those which might herald a continuation of the two-week rally that has taken the index up about 10 per cent.