FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Singapore Service Sector Turns Optimistic in Q3

By

Business expectations among service providers in Singapore turned positive in the third quarter, with a net weighted balance of 13% of firms expecting a more favorable outlook over the next six months, according to survey data from Statistics Singapore released Friday.

This marks a rebound from the negative 4% net balance recorded in the previous quarter, which was influenced by tensions in the Middle East.

For the July-December 2026 period, 19% of firms are optimistic about business conditions, while 6% expect deteriorating conditions.

Related Articles

International

Singapore's Unemployment Rate Steadies at 2% in Q2

Singapore's unemployment rate remained unchanged in the second quarter at 2% from the previous quarter, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Manpower released Friday.The reading matched the Trading Economics forecast of 2.1%.Total employment grew by 10,700 during the second quarter of the year, compared with 10,400 a year earlier.

^STI
International

New Zealand Lending Rises in June Amid Broad-Based Loan Growth

New Zealand's lending from registered banks and non-bank lending institutions increased in June, driven by growth in housing, business, and agricultural lending, while personal consumer lending edged lower compared with the previous month, according to data from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand released on Friday.Total housing loans from registered banks and non-bank lending institutions in New Zealand grew to NZ$400.51 billion in June from NZ$399.03 billion in May. Total personal consumer lending fell to NZ$14.45 billion in June from NZ$14.46 billion in the previous month.Total business lending increased to NZ$143.18 billion in the period, from NZ$143.13 billion. Meanwhile, agricultural lending rose to NZ$64.5 billion in June, from NZ$63.16 billion in the previous month.

^NZ50
International

Bank of Japan Maintains Benchmark Interest Rate at 1%

The Bank of Japan voted to maintain its benchmark policy rate at 1.00% at the conclusion of its monetary policy meeting on Friday.The decision matched the consensus forecast tracked by Investing.com.The policy board decided, in an 8-1 vote, to continue guiding the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain until the next monetary policy meeting.

Nikkei 225