Industry News

OUE Limited has announced its financial results for the fiscal year ending 31 December 2025, reporting a revenue of S$617m alongside a loss attributable to shareholders amounting to S$279.1m. The results highlight a 4.6% decrease in revenue compared to the previous year, where the company recorded S$646.5m. The loss marks a slight improvement from the previous year’s loss of S$286.8m.

The company’s financial performance was impacted by several factors, including a decline in gross profit, which fell by 6.3% to S$334.1m. This was attributed to a decrease in revenue and an increase in marketing and administrative expenses. Additionally, OUE’s share of results from equity-accounted investees showed a significant downturn, contributing to the overall loss.

Despite the challenging financial landscape, OUE’s total assets stood at S$8.3b, with investment properties valued at S$4.7b. The company also reported a reduction in borrowings, which decreased from S$3.1b to S$2.9b, reflecting efforts to manage financial liabilities.

The financial results underscore the difficulties faced by OUE in navigating the current economic environment. Looking ahead, the company remains focused on strategic initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and explore growth opportunities to improve its financial standing.

Singaporeans are expressing heightened confidence in their financial prospects and the domestic economy, according to a recent survey by MDRi. The survey, which included 1,000 respondents from Singapore and Hong Kong, reveals that 45% of Singaporeans expect their financial situation to improve in 2026, compared to 34% of Hongkongers. Additionally, 70% of Singaporeans are optimistic about the national economic outlook, significantly higher than the 41% in Hong Kong.

The optimism is bolstered by Singapore’s Budget 2026, delivered on 12 February by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong. The Budget introduces measures such as additional cash disbursements, enhanced utilities rebates, and expanded Community Development Council vouchers to alleviate cost-of-living pressures. These initiatives aim to strengthen short-term cash flow and help households manage essential expenses like groceries, transport, and energy.

Affluent individuals in Singapore are particularly optimistic, with 49% expressing financial optimism for 2026, compared to 42% in Hong Kong. This demographic’s confidence is attributed to diversified investment exposure and financial adaptability. The Budget’s focus on business dynamism and long-term growth, including corporate income tax rebates and enterprise financing support, is seen as particularly beneficial for this group.

The survey also indicates that Singaporeans are more optimistic about China’s economic prospects and the broader Asian economy than their Hong Kong counterparts. However, global uncertainty continues to affect sentiment, with both markets showing low optimism towards the world economic environment.

Simon Tye, CEO of MDRi, stated, “Singapore enters the Year of the Horse from a position of strength. Confidence in personal finances and the domestic economy remains elevated, particularly among affluent households, and Budget 2026 adds a further layer of support through cost-of-living measures and pro-business policies.”

Attika Group has announced a 19.3% increase in net profit for the financial year 2025, reaching S$3.4m. This growth is attributed to an expansion in gross profit margin, which rose to 20.5% from 15.1% in the previous year. The company has also secured two new contracts worth S$12m for interior fit-out projects, underscoring its strategic focus on high-value, high-specification projects.

The company has proposed a final dividend of 1.1029 Singapore cents per share and aims to distribute 35% of net profit attributable to owners for the financial years 2026 and 2027. Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Steven Tan, highlighted the resilience of Attika’s business model, stating, “Our FY2025 performance demonstrates the resilience of our business model. Whilst topline figures moderated after a landmark FY2024, our ability to expand margins and grow net profit by nearly 20% validates our strategy.”

Attika’s recent contract wins in the public infrastructure and commercial sectors indicate strong momentum as the company moves into 2026. The firm remains committed to maintaining capital discipline to seize opportunities within Singapore’s thriving construction sector.

Looking ahead, Attika Group’s strategic priorities include continuing to target high-value projects and sharing growth benefits with shareholders through consistent dividend payouts.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced that it is closely observing the ongoing situation in the Middle East to assess its potential impact on Singapore’s economy and financial system. Despite the geopolitical tensions, MAS confirmed that the country’s foreign exchange and money markets are functioning normally.

The Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate (S$NEER) remains within its appreciating policy band, which helps mitigate imported inflationary pressures. This stability is crucial for maintaining economic balance in the face of external uncertainties.

In its January Monetary Policy Statement, MAS highlighted its readiness to respond to any risks that may threaten medium-term price stability. This proactive stance underscores the authority’s commitment to safeguarding Singapore’s economic interests amidst global challenges.

The MAS’s vigilance and preparedness provide reassurance to market participants and the public, ensuring confidence in the resilience of Singapore’s financial system. As developments unfold, MAS remains poised to take necessary actions to maintain economic stability.

Singapore Management University (SMU) and Fudan University have introduced the SMU-Fudan Doctor of Business Administration in Technology, a pioneering programme designed for senior executives. This initiative, announced on 2 March 2026, seeks to bridge the gap between rapid technological advancements and strategic business leadership by focusing on the intersection of business and technology.

The programme addresses the increasing demand for leaders who can integrate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, data platforms, and Web3 into strategic business frameworks. Zhu Feida, Programme Director at SMU, highlighted the need for leaders to move beyond mere adoption of technology to generating insights that shape governance and application in real-world contexts.

Participants will gain exposure to both Singapore’s and China’s innovation ecosystems, benefiting from the regulatory environment of Singapore and the technological scaling of Shanghai. The programme is structured to provide cross-border and cross-cultural learning, with joint supervision from top-tier faculty at both universities.

Liu Yu, Programme Director at Fudan, emphasised the programme’s focus on transforming innovation experience into research-backed strategies. The curriculum covers AI, data science, and sustainability, preparing leaders to balance innovation with ethical governance and long-term value creation.

Tony Tang, Group CFO of GHY Culture & Media, noted the programme’s unique integration of technology, business strategy, and governance, offering invaluable perspectives for executives in Asia. Applications for the inaugural intake in August 2026 are now open, marking a significant step in fostering tech-savvy business leaders.

Dezign Format has announced an adjusted net profit of S$2.2m for the financial year 2025, despite incurring significant costs related to its initial public offering (IPO) and strategic expansion efforts. The company is poised for growth with plans to enter key Southeast Asian markets and the upcoming launch of a new production facility in Malaysia.

The board has recommended a final dividend of 0.25 Singapore cents per share, reflecting confidence in the company’s future prospects. Chairman and CEO Mike Chong stated, “FY2025 was a pivotal, transitional year for Dezign Format. Whilst our headline numbers reflect the upfront costs of our IPO and strategic expansion, our Adjusted Net Profit of S$2.2m reveals the underlying resilience of our core business.”

The new Malaysian facility is expected to enhance cost efficiencies, whilst expansion into high-growth markets such as Vietnam and Thailand aims to solidify Dezign Format’s presence in the region. Chong added, “We remain optimistic about the path ahead and are focused on scaling our bespoke, experiential offerings to deliver sustained value to all our stakeholders.”

This strategic positioning is anticipated to improve long-term margins and scalability, setting the stage for sustained growth in the competitive Southeast Asian market.

The Genomics for Kids in ASEAN programme, a collaboration between Temasek Foundation and KKH Maternal and Child Health Research Institute, is revolutionising rare disease diagnosis across Southeast Asia. Since its inception in 2022, the programme has provided genetic testing to 510 families in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, achieving a 52% diagnostic success rate—well above the international average of 25 to 40%. This initiative has significantly reduced the average diagnostic time from 7.6 years to mere weeks.

The programme’s achievements were highlighted at the KKH Rare Disease Day, attended by Senior Minister of State, Janil Puthucheary. Associate Professor Tan Ee Shien, Programme Lead, emphasised the programme’s role in enhancing regional healthcare collaboration and creating a genomic database tailored to the ASEAN population. “The ultimate goal is to advance precision medicine,” Tan stated, highlighting the importance of diagnostics and treatments tailored to the region’s genetic diversity.

Rare diseases, often genetic, affect fewer than one in 200,000 individuals globally. In ASEAN, over 10 million people live with undiagnosed rare diseases. The programme aims to end the diagnostic “odyssey” for many families, providing life-saving interventions and reducing misdiagnoses.

Beyond diagnosis, the programme is building a sustainable ecosystem for genomic medicine in the region. This includes launching ASEAN’s first genomic database, offering specialised education, and developing infrastructure for genetic screening and research. The initiative, supported by over S$2.8m from Temasek Foundation, is set to transform healthcare systems, enabling better diagnosis and care for future patients.

Singapore’s Land Betterment Charge (LBC) rates have been revised, with commercial properties experiencing a modest 0.5% increase across 20 of 118 sectors. This adjustment, announced by Knight Frank Singapore, marks a slight rise from the 0.1% increase seen six months prior.

The residential sector saw more substantial changes. Landed residential properties (Use Group B1) experienced a 4% increase across 93 sectors. This aligns with the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Price Index, which reported a 3.4% rise in landed home prices in the last quarter of 2025. The lowered interest rates have improved affordability, prompting increased sales activity, particularly in the S$3m to S$7m range.

Non-landed residential properties (Use Group B2) mirrored this trend with a 4.1% rise, notably in sector 97, which saw a 22.7% increase. This surge is attributed to a government land sale in Bedok Rise, awarded at S$1,330 per square foot per plot ratio in December 2025. The competitive bidding environment has driven up land prices, with top bids exceeding expectations.

Industrial properties (Use Group D) saw a 3.2% average increase, with significant transactions like the S$351m sale of a warehouse at Upper Thomson Road. Prime industrial assets continue to attract interest for their long-term value.

Lastly, LBC rates for places of worship and community buildings (Use Group E) rose by 2.8%, reflecting increased economic value in community uses post-pandemic. These revisions indicate a dynamic property market in Singapore, with implications for future development and investment strategies.

Yangzijiang Financial Holding has reported substantial provisions amounting to S$290.9m for FY2025, with a strategic focus on recovery and redeployment in FY2026. Despite these provisions, the company maintained a positive profit before allowances of S$92.2m, driven by income from performing assets and associated investments.

The company, following its recent spin-off, aims to optimise its portfolio by prioritising cash recovery and repositioning for growth amid improving economic conditions in Asia. Yangzijiang Financial plans to deploy up to RMB1.0 billion into selected high-yield equities, exceeding 4.5%, in the first half of 2026, contingent on market conditions and internal risk assessments.

The group’s strategy includes strengthening earnings resilience and supporting sustainable long-term returns over an investment cycle. “With a rebalanced portfolio, the Group aims to strengthen earnings resilience and support sustainable long-term returns over an investment cycle,” the company stated.

Ocean Sky International Limited has reported a 27% increase in revenue for the financial year 2025, reaching S$38.56m, the highest in a decade. The company also secured approximately S$100m in new projects, reinforcing its order book and future revenue prospects. This growth was primarily driven by increased activity in its civil engineering and infrastructure construction segment.

The company, listed on the Catalist board, achieved a profit after tax of S$1.53m, reversing a loss from the previous year. Executive Chairman and CEO Ang Boon Cheow Edward highlighted the company’s disciplined cost management and project execution as key factors in returning to profitability. “Securing approximately S$100m in new projects during the year underscores the resilience of our core business,” he stated.

Ocean Sky’s financial position has strengthened, with cash reserves rising to S$16.93m and total equity increasing to S$42.18m. The company also reduced its total bank borrowings to S$13.61m.

Looking ahead, Ocean Sky remains optimistic about the construction demand in Singapore, projected to remain steady at S$47b to S$53b in 2026. The company plans to focus on selective project bidding and operational efficiency to navigate competitive industry conditions and cost pressures. In its property segment, Ocean Sky aims to maintain long-term value creation and capital preservation amidst mixed global economic conditions.