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Economists mixed on whether MAS will ease monetary policy again in 2025, after January move

The central bank loosens policy settings on Friday after having held them steady since Oct 2022

 Sharon See
Published Fri, Jan 24, 2025 · 07:19 PM
    • The Monetary Authority of Singapore expects the country's growth momentum to slow over this year, after “outperforming” in the second half of last year.
    • The Monetary Authority of Singapore expects the country's growth momentum to slow over this year, after “outperforming” in the second half of last year. PHOTO: BT FILE

    ECONOMISTS are not ruling out a further easing of monetary policy in Singapore this year, following January’s first loosening move since 2020 – though a common base scenario is for the central bank to stand pat for the rest of 2025.

    Several economists cited the global trade impact from US President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs as a potential reason for further easing.

    Having held policy steady since its last tightening move in October 2022, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Friday (Jan 24) said that it will “slightly” reduce the slope of the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate (S$NEER) policy band.

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