Industry News

Amazon Singapore has announced the return of its Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, set to run from 7 to 13 October 2025. This year’s event promises to be the longest yet, offering Prime members exclusive access to thousands of deals across various categories, including toys, electronics, and home essentials. The event aims to give members an early start on holiday shopping with significant discounts on popular brands like LEGO, Sony PlayStation, and Roborock.

Prime members can enjoy up to 40% off on baby and toy brands such as Jurassic World and Hot Wheels, and up to 30% off on LEGO sets. Electronics enthusiasts will find up to 40% off Sennheiser headphones and $80 off the Sony PlayStation 5. Home and kitchen deals include up to 60% off Philips products and 50% off Tefal items. Beauty and personal care products from Bioderma and L’Oréal Paris are also heavily discounted.

In addition to these deals, Prime members benefit from fast and free delivery on eligible items and access to Prime Video. New customers can sign up for a 30-day free trial to experience these benefits. Amazon Fresh offers further savings, with discounts on groceries and essentials, and exclusive promotions for DBS, Citibank, and HSBC cardholders.

The event will also run in multiple countries, including the US, UK, and Australia, marking its debut in Colombia, Ireland, and Mexico. With over 200 million members globally, Amazon Prime continues to enhance the shopping and entertainment experience for its users.

Singlife, a leading financial services company, has announced a preferred partnership with Fullerton Fund Management to enhance its investment offerings. This collaboration aims to provide customers with access to a broader range of investment products and expertise through Singlife’s platforms, including GROW with Singlife and dollarDEX. Fullerton will leverage Singlife’s distribution network to reach a wider audience, offering investment opportunities across business-to-business and direct-to-consumer channels.

Helen Shen, Group Head of Products at Singlife, emphasised the importance of the partnership, stating, “As Singapore’s population ages, we need to help Singaporeans to prepare to live well as they age. This partnership with Fullerton strengthens Singlife’s unique ability to provide holistic solutions both in insurance and investments.”

The partnership builds on a long-standing relationship between the two companies, with GROW playing a central role in delivering Fullerton’s innovative investment solutions. Farooq Lone, CEO of GROW with Singlife, highlighted Fullerton’s proven track record and commitment to innovation as key factors in the collaboration.

In recent years, GROW with Singlife and Fullerton have launched several investment products, including the Fullerton SGD Cash Fund Class C and the Fullerton Lux Funds – China Equities Class A. These initiatives have provided Singaporeans with high-quality investment opportunities to support their financial goals.

The partnership signifies a strategic move to bridge retirement gaps and enhance financial resilience for Singaporeans, aligning with Singlife’s mission to build financial confidence and secure a brighter future.

Starbucks Singapore is launching a series of initiatives this October to support Mental Wellness Month, collaborating with the Health Promotion Board (HPB), The Salvation Army (TSA), and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). These efforts aim to raise awareness, encourage conversations, and provide resources to support mental well-being across the community.

The initiatives kick off on 1 October with the “Language of Support” campaign, developed in partnership with HPB. This programme encourages young people to engage in supportive conversations within Starbucks stores, which serve as safe spaces for these interactions. Unique cup sleeves, known as Cupples, will be introduced to facilitate communication, featuring uplifting quotes and links to HPB’s MindSG portal for mental health resources.

From 8 October, Starbucks will launch a special collection with Singaporean artist Melissa Tan, known as Paintinks by Melt. The collection, celebrating everyday joy, will contribute $0.73 (S$1) from each item sold to mental wellness charities supported by Starbucks’ Community Store.

On World Mental Health Day, 10 October, Starbucks will donate 50 cents from every beverage sold to TSA, marking the 22nd year of their partnership. This initiative supports TSA’s mental wellness programmes, including counselling and resilience-building for vulnerable communities.

From 13 October, Starbucks and AIC will host sessions at the Community Store, offering opportunities for participants to engage with mental health professionals and individuals with lived experiences. These sessions aim to foster understanding and provide practical self-care resources.

Starbucks Singapore’s General Manager, Patrick Kwok, emphasised the importance of these initiatives, stating, “These ongoing partnerships and initiatives build on our journey—extending the spirit of care, support, and connection beyond the Community Store.”

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has taken significant regulatory and enforcement actions in the third quarter of 2025, addressing breaches by financial institutions and individuals. These actions aim to deter misconduct and maintain Singapore’s reputation as a financial hub.

In July, MAS revoked the Capital Markets Services Licence of Xen Capital Asia Pte Ltd due to multiple regulatory breaches, including failure to submit necessary returns and notify MAS of changes. The company’s Executive Director and former CEO, Katrina Marie Ku Cokeng, was reprimanded for her role in these failures.

On 4 July, MAS imposed composition penalties totalling $20.1 million (S$27.45 million) on nine financial institutions for breaches related to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. This action followed a major money laundering case in August 2023.

Further enforcement included a five-year prohibition order against Jonathan Toh Hong Sen for forging a client’s signature to establish an insurance policy without consent. MAS deemed him unfit to serve as a financial adviser representative.

In August, prohibition orders were issued against Liong Yan Sin, Dinath Silvamany Muthaliyar, and Ang Kok How for unauthorised access to customer information, violating the Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act.

Additionally, in September, MAS issued a three-year prohibition order against Rachel Wong Shi Jun for mis-selling insurance products to a vulnerable client. Singlife Financial Advisers Pte Ltd faced a composition penalty of $68,750 (S$93,750) for inadequate supervision and training of representatives.

These actions underscore MAS’s commitment to enforcing regulations and safeguarding the financial sector’s integrity.

Private home prices in Singapore increased by 1.2% quarter-on-quarter (QOQ) in Q3 2025, driven by a series of new city launches, according to flash estimates released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). This marks the fourth consecutive quarter of rising private home prices. Meanwhile, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) reported a slower growth of 0.4% QOQ in resale flat prices, continuing a trend of easing growth for the fourth straight quarter.

The Core Central Region (CCR) saw the most significant rise in non-landed private home prices, with a 2.4% QOQ increase, attributed to successful launches such as The Robertson Opus and UpperHouse at Orchard Boulevard. These projects collectively sold 835 units, contributing to the highest quarterly CCR sales since Q4 2010.

In the Rest of Central Region (RCR), prices reversed a previous decline, rising by 0.4% QOQ, supported by new launches like LyndenWoods and Promenade Peak. The Outside Central Region (OCR) also experienced a 1.0% QOQ price increase, bolstered by strong demand for mass-market homes, notably the Springleaf Residence, which sold 94% of its units.

Kelvin Fong, CEO of PropNex, noted, “The sustained buyer interest in new launches in Q3 2025 has helped to prop up private home prices.” He projected a 4% to 5% rise in private home prices for 2025, driven by well-located projects and lower interest rates.

The HDB resale market saw 7,157 flats resold in Q3 2025, slightly up from the previous quarter. However, the cumulative price increase for 2025 remains significantly lower than in 2024, reflecting a cooling trend in the resale market.

Cushman & Wakefield’s latest MarketBeat report reveals that Singapore’s office and retail sectors experienced rental growth in the third quarter of 2025. CBD Grade A office rents increased by 0.5% as vacancy rates fell to 4.7% from 5.2% in the previous quarter, driven by tighter supply and a persistent flight to quality. Meanwhile, prime retail rents in Orchard and other city areas rose by 0.3%, supported by demand from new-to-market brands and resilient non-discretionary spending.

The report highlights that lower interest rates and Singapore’s advantageous tariff position in the Asia-Pacific region could bolster occupier confidence, potentially leading to more relocations. This is further supported by the ongoing trend of flight-to-quality moves and displacement from office redevelopments. “We remain optimistic that relocation activity will pick up over the next 12 months,” the report states, indicating a positive outlook for the office market.

In the retail sector, the entry of international brands such as Yo-Chi and Joocyee has contributed to the growth in prime retail rents. Suburban prime mall rents also saw a 0.3% increase, with low vacancy rates and steady non-discretionary spending playing a significant role. The limited pipeline of new retail projects, with islandwide additions from 2026 to 2029 averaging less than half the 10-year norm, is expected to support rental growth.

Looking ahead, the report anticipates continued rental growth in both sectors, with CBD Grade A office rents projected to rise into 2026 as supply tightens further. Similarly, prime retail rents are expected to remain robust due to the limited supply of new projects.

Investment banking fees in Singapore have seen a significant rise, with the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) reporting a 31.5% increase to $683m in the first nine months of 2025. This growth is attributed to a surge in equity capital markets and debt capital markets activities, which saw fees more than double and grow by 44.5% respectively compared to the previous year.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) involving Singapore reached $54.1b, a 7.1% increase from the same period in 2024. Despite the rise in value, the number of deals fell by 25%, hitting a nine-year low. Notably, fourteen deals exceeded $1b, totalling $23b, compared to seven such deals last year. The high technology sector emerged as the most targeted industry, capturing 15.2% of the market share.

Equity capital markets (ECM) activities also showed robust performance, with proceeds doubling to $5.8b, marking the best year-to-date period since 2021. The number of initial public offerings (IPOs) surged by 163.6%, with 29 IPOs raising $2.1b. DBS Group Holdings led the ECM underwriting league with $661.3m in proceeds.

In the debt capital markets (DCM), primary bond offerings from Singapore issuers reached $34.4b, a 31.5% increase from the previous year. The financial sector dominated, capturing 64.6% of the market share. DBS Group also topped the DCM underwriting league, securing $4.7b in proceeds.

These developments highlight Singapore’s dynamic investment banking landscape, with significant implications for future financial activities and market positioning.

SNP Group, a leader in digital transformation and data management for SAP environments, has appointed Jelita Kamal as its first Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Asia Pacific. This strategic move aims to capture the increasing demand for digital transformation in the region, which includes key markets such as Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and China. Kamal will be based in Singapore and will oversee the go-to-market strategy, demand management, and sales operations across Asia Pacific and Japan.

Kamal brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the enterprise technology sector, having held senior roles at SAP and Salesforce. Her appointment is seen as a crucial step in strengthening SNP’s operational capabilities and ensuring consistent execution across the region. Phillip Miltiades, President and Managing Director of SNP JAPAC, stated, “Her leadership and experience will be instrumental in deepening customer value and supporting our teams and partners to achieve greater success.”

SNP is targeting a threefold increase in its Asia Pacific business within the next three years. Kamal’s role will focus on building scalable operations and delivering outcomes that help organisations unlock their full potential. Commenting on her new position, Kamal expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “I am excited to join SNP Group at such a pivotal time of transformation and growth.”

SNP Group works with over 3,000 customers globally and aims to enhance its presence in Asia Pacific through this new leadership role.

Raw Design Consultants, a Singapore-based office interior design studio, is at the forefront of transforming office spaces to accommodate the growing trend of hybrid work. As Singapore ranks highly in Asia Pacific for hybrid work adoption, the traditional office is evolving into a hub for collaboration, culture, and connectivity. This shift requires efficient layouts and strategic budget allocation to balance high rental costs and limited floor space.

Founded over a decade ago, Raw Design Consultants aims to streamline office design by focusing on client needs and employee wellbeing. “We wanted to deliver inspiring spaces on schedule,” said Gary Teo, founder of Raw Design Consultants. The studio’s approach incorporates natural light, acoustics, and ergonomic planning, ensuring efficient use of space and cost transparency.

A prime example of their work is Monks Singapore’s APAC headquarters, designed to support both collaboration and hybrid schedules. The office features a central social sanctuary for seminars and gatherings, surrounded by diverse work areas and integrated technology for seamless hybrid meetings.

As hybrid models continue to evolve, Raw Design Consultants anticipates a growing demand for offices that blend local character with global connectivity. “Every office tells a story, but the story really begins with the people who use the space,” Teo noted. The studio remains committed to creating spaces that reflect the needs and stories of their users, shaping the future of workspaces in Singapore and beyond.

Aman has announced the launch of Aman Singapore, a new urban sanctuary set to transform the luxury landscape of the city-state. Scheduled to open within The Skywaters, Singapore’s tallest skyscraper, the development will feature a hotel, Aman branded residences, and a global private members club. This marks Aman’s first foray into Singapore, promising a blend of privacy, harmonious design, and exceptional service.

The Skywaters, developed by Perennial Holdings and designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, will rise at the intersection of Singapore’s Central Business District, Marina Bay, and the future Greater Southern Waterfront. Aman Singapore will offer exclusive facilities, including a comprehensive Aman Spa and an infinity-edged pool, alongside several signature dining venues.

The residences, ranging from one to five bedrooms, will provide sweeping views of Singapore’s skyline and the South China Sea. Each residence will be serviced with Aman’s renowned attention to detail, offering a serene retreat amidst the bustling city.

Vlad Doronin, CEO and Chairman of Aman Group, expressed excitement about the project, stating, “The launch of Aman Singapore, within the landmark The Skywaters development, marks an exciting chapter for our brand.” Pua Seck Guan, Executive Chairman and CEO of Perennial Holdings, added, “The Skywaters represents a bold new chapter for Singapore’s skyline.”

Aman Singapore joins a robust pipeline of future properties for the brand, including locations in Dubai, Riyadh, and Beverly Hills, further cementing Aman’s reputation as a global leader in luxury hospitality.