SG Morning Highlights | Keppel DC REIT Issues New Units and Expands Its Portfolio

– Moomoo News SG

Advancers / Decliners is 69 / 77, with 90.86M securities worth S$83.78M changing hands.

According to RHB economists, the Singapore equities market is expected to experience moderation in 2025 as a result of US interest rate cuts, projected to settle between 3.50-3.75% by year-end. The market, heavily influenced by sectors like banking and real estate investment trusts (REITs), will see varied impacts due to these rate adjustments. While bank earnings may remain flat due to narrower net interest margins (NIMs), positive loan growth and stable credit costs are expected to offset this impact. Conversely, REITs are likely to benefit from the lower interest rates, potentially seeing better performance in 2025 compared to 2024, reminiscent of past cycles where rate cuts led to significant sector rebounds. Despite potential short-term market volatility, overall earnings per share (EPS) growth across sectors, except financials, is anticipated for 2025, with financial sector recovery expected in 2026. Key growth sectors highlighted include industrial, transportation, and utilities.

A recent survey by NetApp highlights that Singapore is seeing significant sustainability benefits from artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, with about 63% of firms reporting a high or extremely high impact on reducing their carbon footprint. This places Singapore just behind Australia/New Zealand, the leader in the Asia-Pacific region with approximately 64%. In contrast, other APAC nations like India and Japan reported lower impacts at 53% and 49%, respectively. The global average stands at 50%. Interestingly, despite lower AI adoption rates, France reported a relatively high impact at 56%, compared to Germany and Spain, both under 40%. The survey involved 1,300 tech and data executives across nine markets, reflecting a clear trend that higher AI adoption correlates with greater sustainability impacts.