Singapore stocks rally as investors price in September Fed rate cut; STI up 0.2%

SINGAPORE - The local bourse logged gains for a second straight day on Sept 5, closing higher alongside regional markets amid expectations that weak US job market data will cement a September interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

The Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.2 per cent, or 10.25 points, to 4,307.08.

DFI Retail Group led gains on the benchmark index, rising 3.1 per cent, or 10 US cents, to close at US$3.32.

Jardine Matheson landed at the bottom of the table, falling 0.9 per cent, or 56 US cents, to US$59.99.

Across the broader market, advancers beat decliners 349 to 184 after two billion securities worth $1.3 billion changed hands.

A report on Sept 4 showed that private employment in the US rose by 54,000 jobs in August. This fell short of the 65,000 new jobs that economists polled by Reuters had forecast. Maybank analysts wrote in a note on Sept 5 that the figure indicated “further signs of labour market weakness”.

“Odds of a Fed cut remained relatively unchanged, with a September cut almost fully priced,” the analysts noted, adding that markets are awaiting August non-farm payroll data, to be released at 8.30pm Singapore time.

Ms Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, noted that investors are now looking for “final confirmation that the (US job market’s) weakening trend is entrenched and justifies a Fed cut – or two”.

Expectations of a dovish Fed and lower rates in the coming months boosted appetite for risk assets such as equities, instead of Treasuries.

“Softer-than-expected jobs numbers could weigh further on the US two-year (Treasury) yield and extend the breather on the long end after weeks of sell-off,” said Ms Ozkardeskaya.

Regional markets also rallied amid rate cut expectations. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.1 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1 per cent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index grew 1.4 per cent.