economy-policy https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/ THE BUSINESS TIMES - Find latest business and financial news including analysis and opinion on top business stories, stock markets in Singapore, Asia-Pacific and global market news and more at The Business Times. en-US https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/favicon.ico economy-policy https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/ 32 32 Singapore should prepare for prolonged haze until November, says Grace Fu https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapore-should-prepare-prolonged-haze-until-november-says-grace-fu Fri, 16 Oct 2026 10:06:19 +0000 Low Youjin Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapore-should-prepare-prolonged-haze-until-november-says-grace-fu Expect air quality to fluctuate and possibly reach hazardous levels, the minister adds Singapore identifies 7 firms responsible for haze fires, notices issued urging action: Grace Fu https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapore-identifies-7-firms-responsible-haze-fires-notices-issued-urging-action-grace-fu Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:31:50 +0000 Low Youjin Tessa Oh Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapore-identifies-7-firms-responsible-haze-fires-notices-issued-urging-action-grace-fu She does not specify whether these are Singapore or Indonesian companies – except that they are located in Sumatra Singapore’s worsening haze threatens business activity, but GDP impact ‘limited’: analysts https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/singapores-worsening-haze-threatens-business-activity-gdp-impact-limited-analysts Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:35:09 +0000 Isabelle Chong Shikhar Gupta Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/singapores-worsening-haze-threatens-business-activity-gdp-impact-limited-analysts Some firms face productivity losses, but others could benefit from higher demand for air purifiers, masks Singapore key exports jump by higher-than-expected 68.4% in September, led by non-electronics https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapore-key-exports-jump-higher-expected-68-4-september-led-non-electronics Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:30:00 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapore-key-exports-jump-higher-expected-68-4-september-led-non-electronics Electronics exports continue to surge on AI-related demand, but economists warn that this will soften in 2027 Singapore Q2 tourism receipts down 6.2% at S$7.21 billion amid global uncertainty https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/singapore-q2-tourism-receipts-down-6-2-s7-21-billion-amid-global-uncertainty Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:52:26 +0000 Elysia Tan Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/singapore-q2-tourism-receipts-down-6-2-s7-21-billion-amid-global-uncertainty International visitor arrivals are 6.6% lower than a year ago Low rates may weigh on Singdollar after MAS policy hold https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/low-rates-may-weigh-singdollar-after-mas-policy-hold Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:35:17 +0000 Tessa Oh Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/low-rates-may-weigh-singdollar-after-mas-policy-hold But some analysts still bullish as MAS’ firm stance and Singapore’s credibility support the move Bubble or nothing? Looking at the AI boom as part of a cycle https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/bubble-or-nothing-looking-ai-boom-part-cycle Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:39:17 +0000 Annabeth Leow Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/bubble-or-nothing-looking-ai-boom-part-cycle Singapore’s economic strategy must be ready for structural artificial intelligence-related risk Surprise MAS hold signals core inflation near peak; economists see longer pause in policy tightening https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/surprise-mas-hold-signals-core-inflation-near-peak-economists-see-longer-pause-policy-tightening Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:21:15 +0000 Tessa Oh Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/surprise-mas-hold-signals-core-inflation-near-peak-economists-see-longer-pause-policy-tightening A narrower forecast points to stabilising prices, though HSBC and UOB flag a January risk Singapore growth to stay firm, but AI boost to moderate in 2027: MAS https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/singapore-growth-stay-firm-ai-boost-moderate-2027-mas Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Low Youjin Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/singapore-growth-stay-firm-ai-boost-moderate-2027-mas Core inflation is expected to ease from mid-2027 MAS holds monetary policy settings, pausing after two straight tightenings https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/mas-holds-monetary-policy-settings-pausing-after-two-straight-tightenings Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:06:10 +0000 Tessa Oh Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/mas-holds-monetary-policy-settings-pausing-after-two-straight-tightenings Core inflation forecast for 2026 narrows to 1.5% to 2%; central bank sees price pressures easing from mid-2027 Economists raise full-year GDP forecasts after growth hits 5.4% in Q3, beating estimates https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/economists-raise-full-year-gdp-forecasts-after-growth-hits-5-4-q3-beating-estimates Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:02:17 +0000 Elysia Tan Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/economists-raise-full-year-gdp-forecasts-after-growth-hits-5-4-q3-beating-estimates The manufacturing sector is up by 7.5% year on year in the 3 months to September, from 12.9% in Q2 Asean needs to come together as ‘single market’ to continue attracting investments: PM Wong https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/asean-needs-come-together-single-market-continue-attracting-investments-pm-wong Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:25:05 +0000 Benicia Tan Companies & Markets Economy & Policy New Articles Singapore /companies-markets/asean-needs-come-together-single-market-continue-attracting-investments-pm-wong He also notes at DBS forum with the bank’s CEO Tan Su Shan how firms can manage AI’s impact on jobs and... Economists expect MAS to tighten monetary policy again in October, though some see room for a pause https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/economists-expect-mas-tighten-monetary-policy-again-october-though-some-see-room-pause Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:25:37 +0000 Tessa Oh Economy & Policy Singapore /singapore/economy-policy/economists-expect-mas-tighten-monetary-policy-again-october-though-some-see-room-pause Another ‘very slight’ steepening of the Singdollar policy band is expected on Oct 14 SIT sets up lifelong learning school that combines assessment, training and research https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/sit-sets-lifelong-learning-school-combines-assessment-training-and-research Mon, 12 Oct 2026 06:20:52 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/sit-sets-lifelong-learning-school-combines-assessment-training-and-research It works with industry in multiple aspects, from creating assessment tools to teaching programmes Singapore workers embrace AI faster than global peers, but fewer feel secure in their jobs: PwC survey https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapore-workers-embrace-ai-faster-global-peers-fewer-feel-secure-their-jobs-pwc-survey Mon, 12 Oct 2026 04:58:22 +0000 Tessa Oh Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/singapore-workers-embrace-ai-faster-global-peers-fewer-feel-secure-their-jobs-pwc-survey Confidence in job security has dropped 15 percentage points since 2024, while global sentiment is steady Red Bull’s Verstappen secures first Singapore Grand Prix win https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/red-bulls-verstappen-secures-first-singapore-grand-prix-win Sun, 11 Oct 2026 14:12:26 +0000 Elysia Tan Singapore Economy & Policy /singapore/red-bulls-verstappen-secures-first-singapore-grand-prix-win The 2026 race draws the second-highest attendance on record in Singapore, at 301,294