Singapore shares closed higher on Thursday, despite mixed regional results, as the city-state's Central Bank decided to maintain the current rate of appreciation of the S$NEER, while the US Federal Reserve also chose to keep interest rates unchanged at their initial policy gathering this year.

The Straits Times Index (STI), a key benchmark for the Singapore Exchange, ranged between 4,902.78 and 4,931.10 throughout the day. It ended the session at 4,930.03, up 20.69 points or 0.4% compared to Wednesday's close.

Yanlord Land up 5.6%; YZJ Fin Hldg up over 4%; Sembcorp Ind, Hong Leong Asia up around 3%; Kep Infra Tr, ST Engineering up nearly 2%.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore or MAS has decided to maintain the current rate of appreciation of the S$NEER policy band, with no change to its width and level at which it is center, according to a MAS release on Thursday.

In other economic news, Singapore's Export Price Index fell 4.9% year on year in December 2025, following a 3.3% decrease in the preceding month, as the Non-Oil Index slipped 3.2%, while the Oil Index dropped 12.3% on year during the month, the city-state's Department of Statistics reported.

Furthermore, Singapore's Manufactured Products Price Index fell 2.2% year over year in December 2025, reversing the 5.4% increase in the preceding month. Meanwhile, Singapore's Domestic Supply Price Index fell 3.3% in December 2025, following a 2.8% increase in November.

In corporate news, shares of Rex International closed nearly 3% higher as it completed the reverse takeover process intended for Xer Sweden's listing in Stockholm.

Mapletree Industrial Trust closed flat, as its distribution per unit, or DPU, declined 7% in the fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025, to SG$0.0317 from SG$0.0341 a year