logo
How the Singapore dollar could perform against the US dollar this year

How the Singapore dollar could perform against the US dollar this year

Business Times09-05-2025

[SINGAPORE] Fading US exceptionalism could pave the way for further appreciation of the Singapore dollar against the greenback, said analysts.
The Singdollar surged to around 1.29 per US dollar on Monday (May 5) – a level not seen since September 2024. That drove its year-to-date gain to about 5 per cent, with its five-day gain at around 1 per cent.
Among other Asian currencies, the Taiwan dollar surged to highs not seen in over 30 years, while the Malaysian ringgit and safe-haven Japanese yen also strengthened. On Friday morning during Asia trade, the US dollar/Singapore dollar was last at 1.30.
Asian currencies jumped as the US dollar weakened on worries that the tariff war could hurt the US economy. However, Donald Trump has suggested the US may strike trade deals with some countries as soon as this week.
Amid the uncertainty, in the short term till the end of 2025, analysts expect the Singdollar to further appreciate against the greenback and hover within the 1.26 to 1.29 range. The broader trajectory points to continued strength against the US dollar.
As global investors pull back from the US dollar, the Singdollar is emerging as a resilient alternative, said Saktiandi Supaat, Maybank head of FX research.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign Up
Sign Up
'The Singapore dollar can continue to appreciate against the US dollar as US exceptionalism fades and a broad diversification on a flight to quality away from the US dollar continues,' he said.
He added that the Monetary Authority of Singapore's policy stance is also responsible for the steady appreciation of the Singapore dollar.
Saktiandi said that the city-state's stability and strong fundamentals – including a strong reserves position and credible central bank policy – make its currency a more attractive option when markets look for alternatives to the greenback.
The strengthening of the Singdollar has been supported by improved regional sentiment, which ANZ Research attributes to easing tariff concerns amid trade talks between US and its trading partners.
'More fundamentally, we continue to question US dollar's status as a primary reserve currency and a safe haven… (as) the rise in US protectionist measures have significantly heightened economic policy uncertainty,' says Christopher Wong, OCBC FX strategist.
The analyst, however, posited that the overshoot in the Singdollar for the last few days is 'due for correction' now that market activity has started picking up.
He said the US Federal Reserve keeping rates steady on Wednesday supports the US dollar, and a near term rebound for the Singdollar back to 1.31 per US dollar 'should not be ruled out'.
'As a result, traders may start closing out their previous bets against the US dollar. Unless there is a new reason for the US dollar to weaken further, we can expect the USD/SGD exchange rate to stabilise and possibly drift slightly higher,' Wong added.
Tariff impact
Philip Wee, DBS' senior FX strategist noted that countries should focus on ensuring continued access to the US market rather than currency competitiveness.
'Singapore's primary concern about US tariffs lies more in their secondary impact – how global trade disruptions and weakening external demand could weigh on its export-driven economy,' Wee said.
He added that Trump's approach to fixing global imbalances – using tariffs as leverage in trade negotiations – undermines the trade recycling system that has historically financed US deficits in the US dollar-centric global economy and financial system established after World War II. The shift, he suggested, is starting to have far-reaching implications.
Wee cited the Taiwan dollar's sharp gains on May 2 and May 5 as a sign of growing caution among Asian exporters and institutional investors, who are concerned about potential losses on their US dollar-denominated earnings and assets amid fears of a broader confidence crisis in the US dollar.
Beyond tariffs, Wee highlighted uncertainty around the Trump administration's proposed tax reforms and financial sector deregulation, both of which could introduce further volatility to the global financial system.
While global financial systems face potential disruption, Singapore appears to be holding steady.
'Singapore dollar rates have been falling with Singapore Government Securities, one of the best performing sovereign debt in the world,' Saktiandi added. 'In uncertain times like these, we would suggest that is a testament to Singapore's strengths.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hong Kong leader says national security scrutiny of restaurants is necessary
Hong Kong leader says national security scrutiny of restaurants is necessary

Business Times

time23 minutes ago

  • Business Times

Hong Kong leader says national security scrutiny of restaurants is necessary

[HONG KONG] Hong Kong will toughen screening of catering premises for potential violations of national security, which civil servants should accord top priority in deciding on licence approvals, the city's leader said on Tuesday (Jun 10). Critics see the move as targeting the territory's many businesses, including cafes and restaurants, that have displayed posters, symbols or images expressing solidarity with its embattled pro-democracy movement. Such businesses, widely called the 'yellow economic circle', have faced growing pressure from authorities, such as tax inspectors, at a time when they are reeling from a broader economic and retail downturn. 'Food and environmental hygiene officers ... should place national security as the most important consideration and make appropriate assessments,' John Lee told reporters. He called the move 'appropriate and necessary', saying all civil servants were expected to rate security as the highest priority under the national security law. The city's food and hygiene department would follow the law in considering new licences and renewing existing ones, he added. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up In recent years, authorities in the Asian financial hub have made use of sweeping national security laws imposed after mass anti-government protests in 2019 to systematically crack down on many of its liberal pockets. In May, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department sent letters to thousands of food and entertainment premises, obliging them to accept new terms related to national security. In one document seen by Reuters, the government told business owners to ensure no activity in which they were engaged or involved in 'may constitute or cause the occurrence of an offence endangering national security'. The former British colony's crackdown on dissent, from arresting democratic activists to shuttering liberal media and civil society groups, has drawn criticism from countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States. REUTERS

Hong Kong leader says national security scrutiny of restaurants is necessary, China News
Hong Kong leader says national security scrutiny of restaurants is necessary, China News

AsiaOne

time26 minutes ago

  • AsiaOne

Hong Kong leader says national security scrutiny of restaurants is necessary, China News

HONG KONG — Hong Kong will toughen screening of catering premises for potential violations of national security, which civil servants should accord top priority in deciding on licence approvals, the city's leader said on Tuesday (June 10). Critics see the move as targeting the territory's many businesses, including cafes and restaurants, that have displayed posters, symbols or images expressing solidarity with its embattled pro-democracy movement. Such businesses, widely called the "yellow economic circle", have faced growing pressure from authorities, such as tax inspectors, at a time when they are reeling from a broader economic and retail downturn. "Food and environmental hygiene officers... should place national security as the most important consideration and make appropriate assessments," John Lee told reporters. He called the move "appropriate and necessary", saying all civil servants were expected to rate security as the highest priority under the national security law. The city's food and hygiene department would follow the law in considering new licences and renewing existing ones, he added. In recent years, authorities in the Asian financial hub have made use of sweeping national security laws imposed after mass anti-government protests in 2019 to systematically crack down on many of its liberal pockets. In May, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department sent letters to thousands of food and entertainment premises, obliging them to accept new terms related to national security. In one document seen by Reuters, the government told business owners to ensure no activity in which they were engaged or involved in "may constitute or cause the occurrence of an offence endangering national security". The former British colony's crackdown on dissent, from arresting democratic activists to shuttering liberal media and civil society groups, has drawn criticism from countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States. [[nid:717614]]

Australia shares close at record high
Australia shares close at record high

Business Times

timean hour ago

  • Business Times

Australia shares close at record high

(SYDNEY) Australian shares logged a record close on Tuesday (Jun 10), with banks and energy stocks leading the charge, as renewed optimism over US-China trade negotiations lifted investor confidence and fuelled a broad market rally. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.8 per cent to 8,587.20 points, a closing high. The benchmark was closed on Monday for a public holiday. Trade talks between the world's two largest economies have stretched into a second day in London as officials work to ease tensions that have spiralled from tit-for-tat tariffs to rare earth curbs, posing a threat to global supply chains. Local investors are closely watching the talks, hopeful that a positive outcome would spur economic activity in Australia's largest export market, China, and brighten prospects domestically. Heavyweight financials led gains on the Sydney exchange, rising 1.1 per cent to a record peak. The country's 'Big Four' banks gained between 0.9 per cent and 1.5 per cent. 'Despite some certainty on the horizon with trade talks progressing, investors continue bolstering their portfolio with the safety of Aussie banks, which is a likely driver of the financials sector rally today,' said Grady Wulff, a market analyst at Bell Direct. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Energy stocks tracked oil prices higher to support the rally, gaining 0.9 per cent to their highest since March 5, while investors eyed US-China talks for signs of easing trade tensions and stronger fuel demand. Sector major Woodside Energy added 0.7 per cent, while smaller rival Santos gained more than 1 per cent. Separately, Uranium and lithium miners surged, with Boss Energy and Deep Yellow gaining about 2 per cent each and Pilbara Minerals and Mineral Resources both jumping over 5 per cent. Uranium stocks are still riding the momentum sparked by Meta's recent deal to power its AI operations with nuclear energy, while lithium miners rallied on rising commodity prices, Wulff said. New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index rose 0.2 per cent to finish at 12,564.42 points. REUTERS

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store