Industry News

More than half of Singaporean retail investors are optimistic about a global bull market continuing into 2026, according to eToro’s latest Retail Investor Beat survey. The survey, which included responses from 1,000 Singaporean investors, reveals that 54% anticipate the market rally will persist into the new year. However, confidence in the local economy and personal investments has declined since the third quarter.

The survey highlights a drop in confidence across several areas: local economic confidence fell from 77% in Q3 to 70% in Q4, job security confidence decreased from 67% to 59%, and confidence in the cost of living standards dropped from 65% to 58%. Additionally, only 44% of investors believe they are on track to achieve their investment goals by 2025, down from 53% last quarter.

Market Analyst Zavier Wong commented, “There’s a hint of uncertainty lingering in Singapore. Whilst the global market outlook looks encouraging, the lived reality at home hasn’t caught up.”

The survey also identified key external risks perceived by investors, with 47% citing slowing economic growth and political uncertainty as major concerns. Geopolitical instability was noted by 43% of respondents.

Regarding interest rates, 46% of investors expect a decrease in 2026, whilst 27% anticipate an increase. Wong noted, “Most investors here believe rates will start to come down next year, but they’re not expecting anything too dramatic.”

As Singaporean investors navigate these mixed signals, their cautious optimism reflects a balance between global market potential and local economic challenges.

Hongkong Land Holdings Limited has announced the launch of its first private real estate fund, the Singapore Central Private Real Estate Fund (SCPREF), which is set to become the largest of its kind in Singapore. The fund will manage more than S$8b in assets, focusing on prime commercial properties in Singapore. This strategic move is expected to enhance Hongkong Land’s earnings and asset growth, whilst also introducing a new revenue stream through fee income.

The SCPREF will be seeded by Hongkong Land’s existing Singapore commercial portfolio, including interests in One Raffles Quay and Marina Bay Financial Centre Towers 1 and 2. The company has already agreed to sell its interest in Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3 to Keppel REIT for approximately S$1.5b, a deal that exceeds its independent valuation by 2%.

The proceeds from this sale will contribute to Hongkong Land’s capital recycling efforts, which have reached US$2.8b since 2024, moving closer to its 2027 target of US$4b. The SCPREF is expected to launch with assets under management more than double that of Hongkong Land’s seed portfolio, supported by equity commitments from third-party investors.

Hongkong Land’s strategy aims to grow its assets under management to $100b by 2035, with significant participation from external capital. The company plans to reinvest the capital from these transactions into ultra-premium commercial properties in Singapore, reinforcing its commitment to the market. A further announcement regarding SCPREF is anticipated in early 2026.

Singapore’s labour market demonstrated resilience in the third quarter of 2025, with total employment rising by 25,100, significantly surpassing the 10,400 increase seen in the previous quarter. This growth was driven by sectors such as Financial & Insurance Services and Health & Social Services for residents, whilst non-resident employment saw gains in Construction and Manufacturing. Despite ongoing global economic uncertainties, the unemployment rates remained low, with overall unemployment at 2.0% in September 2025.

The number of job vacancies decreased slightly from 76,900 in June to 69,200 in September, yet the demand for Professionals, Managers, and Executives (PMEs) remained robust. The ratio of job vacancies to unemployed persons improved from 1.35 to 1.49, indicating a tighter labour market. Retrenchments were minimal, with only 3,670 cases reported, and employers increasingly opted for short work-week arrangements over layoffs.

In November, the Ministry of Trade and Industry revised Singapore’s GDP growth forecast for 2025 to around 4.0%, reflecting better-than-expected economic performance. However, firms remain cautious about hiring and wage increases, with a slight rise in the share of companies planning redundancies.

To address these challenges, the government offers various programmes to support workforce resilience, including reskilling initiatives and financial support for jobseekers. As Singapore navigates these economic headwinds, both employers and workers are encouraged to remain adaptable and proactive in enhancing their skills and job prospects.

Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB), backed by Whampoa Group and Mumtalakat, has unveiled a new service allowing clients to mint and redeem stablecoins, including USDC and USDT, directly on the Solana blockchain. This initiative, announced at Solana Breakpoint 2025, marks a significant step as SGB becomes the first regulated bank to eliminate transaction and gas fees for these operations.

The service aims to enhance financial flows across the GCC-Asia corridor, building on the over $7b in transactions SGB has processed since its launch in March. Initially available to corporate clients, the service will support transaction and treasury management needs, with plans to expand to personal banking customers.

Shawn Chan, CEO of SGB, highlighted the importance of this development: “The adoption of stablecoins by regulated banks reflects their growing real-world utility. By leveraging Solana’s speed and cost advantages, we are providing our clients across the GCC and Asian markets with a bank-grade compliant stablecoin solution that finally makes real-time, cross-border and cross-counterparty transactions viable for corporates.”

Earlier this year, SGB launched SGB Net, a real-time, multi-currency clearing network, and partnered with Fireblocks for secure treasury management and digital asset custody. As a fully licensed digital bank regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, SGB continues to innovate in digital asset management and stablecoin settlement services, reinforcing its commitment to providing cutting-edge financial solutions.

Leong Guan Holdings Limited, a prominent Singapore-based food manufacturing and distribution company, made a successful debut on the Catalist board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited on 11 December 2025. The company’s shares closed at S$0.24, marking a 4.3% increase from its placement price of S$0.23, after reaching an intraday high of S$0.265.

The positive performance on its first trading day underscores investor confidence in Leong Guan’s business fundamentals and growth prospects. Executive Director and Chairman Lim Tze Chiang expressed gratitude to shareholders and partners, stating, “Our successful debut reflects the market’s recognition of the Group’s long-standing reputation for quality, consistency and innovation in Singapore’s food manufacturing industry.”

Leong Guan, known for its fresh noodle and soy bean-based beancurd products, plans to leverage its listing to enhance manufacturing capabilities and explore new opportunities. The company aims to distribute dividends of at least 80% of its net profit for FY2025 and 35% for FY2026.

The initial public offering, fully subscribed, involved the placement of 20,650,000 shares at S$0.23 each. Notable investors include Lim Hock Chee and Prima Portfolio Pte Ltd. The net proceeds of approximately $1.54m (S$2.1m) will be used for market expansion, facility enhancement, and strategic alliances.

With a market capitalisation of approximately $17.85m (S$24.3m), Leong Guan is poised to strengthen its market leadership and expand its regional footprint.

Ever Glory United Holdings has announced a public offer of up to 2 million new shares at S$0.64 each, as part of its strategic move to transfer from Catalist to the SGX Mainboard. The offer price represents a 9.1% discount to the volume-weighted average price of S$0.704 recorded on 9 December 2025. The offer period commenced at 7:00 AM on 11 December and will close at 12:00 PM on 17 December 2025.

The company aims to raise an estimated $880,000 (S$1.2m) in net proceeds if the offer is fully subscribed. This initiative is designed to fulfil the Singapore Exchange’s (SGX) Listing Manual Rule 213, which requires a minimum shareholder base of 500 for mainboard listing. Ever Glory’s intention to transfer was first announced on 14 October, and it received in-principle approval on 22 November. The SGX has since issued a listing and quotation notice for the offer shares.

This public offer marks a significant milestone for Ever Glory, enhancing its market visibility and expanding its investor base. The company’s move to the mainboard is expected to strengthen its position and attract a broader range of investors.

Instarem, a global digital payments platform, and Choco Up, a growth-financing provider, have introduced a new embedded financing solution for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore and Australia. Launched on 1 September 2025, this service allows eligible Instarem Business clients to apply for up to US$1m in growth capital directly through the Instarem Business portal, with funds disbursed in as little as two business days.

This initiative comes as Southeast Asia’s cross-border e-commerce market is projected to grow significantly, reaching US$14.6b by 2028. The integration aims to reduce cross-border frictions for SMEs, enabling faster settlements and simpler foreign exchange processes. The financing is collateral-free and requires only a personal guarantee from one director, streamlining the application process with basic Know Your Business (KYB) documentation and recent transaction history.

Choco Up has already supported over 1,000 SMEs across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia, facilitating approximately US$2.5b in Gross Merchandise Value. Instarem processes over US$6b annually, offering payment speeds up to 12 times faster than traditional banks.

Percy Hung, CEO of Choco Up, stated, “Fast, flexible, non-dilutive financing lets owners stay in control of how and when they scale.” Michael Minassian, Global Head of SME Business at Instarem, added, “It is about reducing friction and helping regional champions scale internationally with confidence.”

Looking forward, Instarem and Choco Up plan to deepen their API integration to enhance data sharing and decision-making, with expansion to Hong Kong expected in early 2026. SMEs can apply for financing directly through the Instarem Business portal.

ComfortDelGro has received approval from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to commence public road trials of its autonomous vehicle (AV) shuttles in Singapore. This follows the successful completion of Milestone 1 trials by the Centre of Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles (CETRAN), marking a significant step in the company’s AV development.

The trials will feature five AV shuttles, each with a capacity of five passengers, operating in the Punggol district. The initiative is part of ComfortDelGro’s broader strategy to introduce intelligent transport systems in Singapore. Group CEO Cheng Siak Kian highlighted the company’s commitment to innovation and safety, stating, “Completing the CETRAN Milestone 1 batch assessment successfully highlights our dedication to innovation, safety, and operational excellence.”

The approval signifies ComfortDelGro’s adherence to stringent standards for autonomous vehicle systems, paving the way for the introduction of driverless transport options. The company plans to integrate these AV rides into its CDG Zig app under a “Zig Driverless” option, with availability expected in 2026.

This development is poised to enhance Singapore’s transport landscape by offering a new mode of travel that aligns with the nation’s smart city aspirations. As the trials progress, ComfortDelGro’s initiative could set a precedent for future autonomous transport solutions in the region.

Thunes, a global payments network, has joined the World Economic Forum (WEF) Unicorn Community to advance financial interoperability worldwide. This collaboration aims to improve financial access and connectivity for billions of users, leveraging Thunes’ Direct Global Network, which facilitates real-time payments across 130 countries in 80 currencies.

The partnership marks Thunes’ second involvement with WEF’s financial initiatives, focusing on digital payments infrastructure and inclusive economic growth. By joining the Unicorn Community, Thunes will collaborate with global leaders to create a more interconnected financial ecosystem. Peter De Caluwe, co-founder and CEO of Thunes, expressed the company’s commitment to breaking down barriers in financial systems, stating, “We are honoured to be invited to join the World Economic Forum’s Unicorn Community.”

Thunes’ Direct Global Network connects traditional banks, mobile wallets, and digital asset platforms, enabling instant and affordable money transfers. This capability is crucial for driving financial inclusion in both local and global communities. Verena Kuhn, Head of Innovator Communities at the World Economic Forum, welcomed Thunes, highlighting their role in enhancing financial system interoperability.

With headquarters in Singapore and offices in 14 locations worldwide, Thunes is poised to play a significant role in shaping the next generation of global financial infrastructure. The company’s mission to enable the next billion users in emerging markets aligns with WEF’s goals of fostering inclusive and resilient global economies.

MarinaChain, a burgeoning maritime decarbonisation technology firm from South Korea, has unveiled plans to form a joint venture in Singapore. This strategic move, announced on 11 December 2025, is part of the company’s global expansion efforts and aims to create an integrated carbon compliance hub. The hub will combine carbon accounting, alternative fuel trading, regulatory consulting, and data infrastructure into a single platform for shipping companies.

The decision to establish this joint venture in Singapore underscores MarinaChain’s commitment to advancing maritime decarbonisation on a global scale. Singapore, with its strategic location and robust maritime industry, offers an ideal environment for such an initiative. The hub is expected to streamline processes for shipping companies, enabling them to meet regulatory requirements more efficiently whilst adopting sustainable practices.

The establishment of the carbon compliance hub is anticipated to have far-reaching implications for the maritime industry, promoting the adoption of alternative fuels and enhancing regulatory compliance. As the industry faces increasing pressure to reduce emissions, MarinaChain’s initiative could play a pivotal role in facilitating this transition.

The joint venture is being formed with GreenMarine, a Singapore-based cleantech provider specialising in green methanol trading, sustainability consulting, and regulatory training. GreenMarine’s team includes seasoned experts from Europe, the world’s most advanced regulatory environment for maritime decarbonisation.

Looking ahead, MarinaChain’s joint venture in Singapore is poised to become a key player in the global effort to decarbonise the maritime sector, setting a precedent for similar initiatives worldwide.