In Focus
Most firms stuck on simple AI tasks as cognitive gaps stall growth
Most firms stuck on simple AI tasks as cognitive gaps stall growth
About 65% struggle to scale AI despite 70% of workers being digitally literate.
Health, transport costs lead consumer price index in 2025
Meanwhile, tech and clothing prices slide.
Analysts clash over 5.0% export forecast amidst AI risks
UOB raises its forecast to 5.0% on surging AI tailwinds, whilst RHB maintains conservative 3.0% target.
Loss-making firms face exclusion from 40% tax rebate
KPMG warns that unprofitable firms will face immediate relief gaps under the new Year of Assessment.
Construction jobs surge 8,700 as tech sector sheds roles
Ministry of Trade and Industry survey confirms massive hiring spike in building and infrastructure.
Investment returns allow record spending despite tax revenue gap: analysts
Government expenditure is expected to increase by 10.3% to $137.3b in FY2026.
Budget grants won't offset expansion risks, says analysts
KPMG’s Yong Jiahao said geopolitical tensions are raising the cost of going global.
Manufacturing drives Singapore's 5% economic expansion in 2025
New MTI data confirms manufacturing was the undisputed engine of the economy in 2025, expanding nearly 9%.
How do the Big Four read Budget 2026’s AI drive?
They cite $1.5b fund boost and 400% AI tax break as Budget 2026 accelerates adoption.
Two in three satisfied with gov’t but cost of living still stings
Law and order are rated more favourably, as housing affordability lags.
LIVE UPDATES: Singapore Budget 2026
All eyes are on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as he prepares to deliver the 2026 Budget Statement.
MAS to tighten policy in April amidst 2.5% output gap
Analysts cite the 5% growth surge in 2025 as the primary driver for a steeper S$NEER slope.
Singapore stocks hit 10-year high after 34% index surge
Financials and AI exports drive Singapore’s strongest market gains in two years.
Budget Wishlist: Tech leaders demand AI governance fund to fix 40% SME security gap
Fragmented systems currently drain 4.5 hours of productivity per employee every single week.
EDB investment blitz hooks 15,700 jobs for high-value roles
Total business expenditure hit $8.9b led by corporate headquarters and professional services.
January startup funding jumps 155% as late-stage capital hits $2b
Seed-stage companies saw a significantly smaller share of the capital.
Budget 2026: 57% of firms demand AI grants to offset rising costs
Nearly 60% of companies are calling for a significant injection of capital into digital adoption and skills credit programmes.
Commentary
Where does value creation really happen?
Managing the cost of diverging standards: Why Singapore matters
Singapore’s AI ambition has an intelligence problem
Singapore is deploying AI at speed – and security risks are catching up
Precious metal boom is a stress test for Singapore’s gold ambitions
Singapore’s global dispute fault lines
‘Tokenmaxxing’ – The wrong AI race to run in Singapore
To outsmart modern fraud, we must first know the enemy
Why Singapore SMEs cannot wait for quantum cyber risk to arrive before securing data