Here’s a better barometer to NPL than interest rates

It’s a more sensitive indicator to non-performing loans.

NPLs have been the darling of Singapore banks’ results in 2015, with absolute NPLs rising by 15% this 9M15, following the trend of credit costs.

However, while interest rates have been an effective indicator for NPL trends, DBS says unemployment rates have a stronger correlation than interest rates.

DBS adds that as long as one remains gainfully employed, installments should continue to get paid.

“There have been concerns that as SIBOR rises, mortgage installments get costlier and there could be stress on repayments. We believe that most home owners should still be able to shoulder the burden of higher rates as banks have ensured that borrowers can still service their home loans if interest rates rise to 3.5% as per Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) requirements,” DBS said.

The people you want to reach are already in this room.

Every quarter, SBR lands on the desks of the founders, CFOs, and directors running Asia's most consequential companies. Every day, they open our newsletter and read our website. It's a room that took twenty years to build — and it's the one most of our partners are trying to get into.

The good news is that the door is open. We work with companies on thought leadership articles, sponsored content, industry summits across Southeast Asia, regional awards programmes, podcasts, and media placements in print and digital. The shape of the right partnership depends on what you're trying to do, which is why we'd rather start with a conversation than send a rate card.

If you have something this room should know about, tell us. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, and how.

No rate cards until we understand the brief. It's a better use of everyone's time.

Book a meeting

| Or download the media kit (PDF)

240,000 senior readers quarterly in print Top 1,700 Singapore companies reached

7 markets across Southeast Asia