Singapore shares rose this week with the STI up 1.23%, as investors remained hopeful about the US Federal Reserve's interest rate rate cut next month.

In economic news, Singapore's Export Price Index fell 3.7% year on year in October, extending the 3.2% slump in the preceding month, the city-state's Department of Statistics.

Meanwhile, Singapore's Manufactured Products Price Index rose 6.9% year over year in October, extending the 7.3% increase in the preceding month.

In terms of individual stocks, JMH USD, Frasers L&C Tr, Jardine C&C up around 5%; IHH, Keppel up around 4%; YZJ Fin Hldg, Hong Leong Asia down over 3%; Bumitama Agri down nearly 4%; ProNex down 7%.

Jardine Matheson Soars over 5% After Reassuring Q3 Performance Update

Jardine Matheson (JMH USD) stock surged 3.06% in early trading on Monday, rebounding strongly from Friday's 1.7% decline. The Hong Kong-based conglomerate's shares rallied following a reassuring third-quarter performance update released after market close on Friday.

In a bourse filing, Jardine Matheson reported that its performance for the third quarter of 2025 was "in line with expectations at the half-year." The company maintained its full-year profit guidance, providing investors with confidence in its business outlook. Additionally, the conglomerate highlighted its ongoing efforts to strengthen its financial position, stating that it "continued to de-lever" its parent balance sheet. As of the end of October, Jardine Matheson's net debt stood at a modest US$25 million, factoring in the receipt and payment of dividends.

Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust's Higher Occupancy Could Support DPU

Frasers L&C Tr's improving occupancy could support higher distribution per unit, says UOB Kay Hian's Jonathan Koh in a note. Occupancy for the real-estate investment trust's Australia logistics portfolio gained 4.3 percentage points in fiscal 4Q, returning to 100% occupancy, the analyst notes.

That helped to boost its overall logistics properties occupancy to 99.7%, he adds. The REIT has also made progress in filling leases that were vacated by Google, he says. Koh raises his FY 2026 DPU projections by 2.5% due to improved occupancy and the REIT's move to pay 75% of its management fees in units, up from 50%. UOB KH increases its target price to S$1.22 from S$1.15 and maintains a buy rating. Units rise 4.81% to S$0.98 this week.

IHH Healthcare Soars over 4% on Strong Earnings Momentum Outlook

IHH Healthcare's stock surged 4.4% this week, driven by optimistic earnings momentum expectations for 2026. Analysts from Maybank IB highlighted improving fundamentals in Turkey and Europe, patient recovery and operational efficiencies in India, steady demand in Malaysia, and utilization ramp-up in Singapore as key factors supporting the positive outlook.

Maybank raised IHH's 2025-2027 core net profit estimates by up to 5% and increased the target price to MYR9.48 while maintaining a buy rating. The analysts noted that the renovations at Mt. Elizabeth Orchard in Singapore and rising medical tourism in Malaysia are expected to further bolster revenue growth. This upbeat assessment has likely fueled investor confidence, contributing to the stock's significant intraday gain.

Keppel Stock Jumps 3.8% this week as It Keeps Buying Back More Shares

Keppel bought back 50,000 shares on Thursday in the open market for SG$515,141, according to a Tuesday filing with the Singapore Exchange.

Keppel also bought back 50,000 shares on Wednesday amd Tuesday each in the open market. The infrastructure and real estate company has so far repurchased around 12.1 million shares under its existing buyback mandate.

Singapore Firms Call for Cost Relief, Manpower Support in Budget 2026: SBF Survey

As business sentiment weakens amid persistent global uncertainties, Singapore companies are looking to Budget 2026 for stronger government support.

Among their top asks for the upcoming Budget are schemes to manage rising costs, the development of the local workforce and improvement of cash flow, indicated the Singapore Business Federation’s (SBF) National Business Survey 2025, Annual Business Sentiments Edition, released on Thursday (Nov 27).

Singapore Rents Aren’t Going Anywhere, AI Boom or Not

Singapore tenants have had two relatively calm years after rental increases blew past New York in the aftermath of the pandemic. No, the Asian financial center didn’t elect a Zohran Mamdani to lower the cost of living — a tight labor market and healthy income growth have made housing affordability less of a worry than in 2023.

The competition for accommodation has also eased. Together with foreign-born permanent residents, expat employment-pass holders have driven demand for condos, historically. The latter group has thinned out a bit from its 2023 peak. Meanwhile, a big wave of apartment supply is around the corner.