Daily Debrief: What Happened Today

Singapore bank lending falls 0.7% in December

Bank lending in Singapore fell in December from the previous month, reflecting a contraction in business loans, preliminary data from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) showed on Friday.

Singapore manufacturers grow more pessimistic

Weak business sentiment is spreading through Singapore's manufacturing sector, on the back of global economic uncertainties, the ongoing slowdown in China, and lower oil prices, said a quarterly Economic Development Board (EDB) survey report released on Friday.

Sentiment in Singapore's services sector worsens

Firms in Singapore's services sector are now even more pessimistic about their short-term business prospects, according to a poll by the Department of Statistics (DOS) released on Friday.

Board changes at EDB, A*Star and IE Singapore

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has announced board appointment changes at the Economic Development Board (EDB), the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) and International Enterprise (IE) Singapore.

Sembcorp unit completes sale of 60% stake in gas manufacturer

Sembcorp Industries' wholly owned entity Sembcorp Utilities has completed the divestment of its 60 per cent stake in Sembcorp Air Products (SembAP) to Eastman Chemical Singapore for about S$4 million.

BOJ shocks markets with negative interest rates move

The Bank of Japan unexpectedly cut a benchmark interest rate below zero on Friday, stunning investors with a move aimed at shielding the country's sluggish economy from volatile markets and slowing global growth.

The STI Today

Singapore shares end higher; STI enjoys 2.6% window-dressing push

Helped by plenty of month-ending window dressing, Friday's session at Singapore Exchange (SGX) brought plenty of relief to battered stocks here, with the Straits Times Index (STI) surging 66.66 points or 2.6 per cent to 2,629.11.