1 week ago
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SINGAPORE - Singapore’s stock market got off to a brisk start in its first week of trading in 2026 amid heightened geopolitical tensions after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
Banking stocks led the gains. Shares of DBS Group rose by more than $2 to hit an all-time high above $58 on Jan 7
With interest rates expected to ease further in 2026, Singapore’s banking stocks are becoming more appealing for income-focused investors, supported by dividend yields of above 5 per cent. These payouts could rise further if earnings remain resilient, analysts said.
At current valuations though, UOB stands out as the most attractive pick, with its dividend yield projected at 5.8 per cent based on its Jan 5 closing price of $35.50, said Ms Lorraine Tan, director of Asia equity research at Morningstar.
UOB, which has lagged DBS and OCBC in share price gains, closed this week at $36.02.
The banks, which are heavyweights on Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index (STI), helped propel the index to fresh highs above 4,700 points this week, with analysts now eyeing the 5,000 level within the year.
The other notable movers on the STI were the property developers, including City Developments, which rose more than 10 per cent through the week to close at $8.87, Hongkong Land, which rose around 9.3 per cent to close at US$7.73, and UOL, which is up by around 7 per cent to close the week at $9.35.
Jardine Matheson closed the week at US$74.72, up by more than...
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