|

Singapore: Labour market could improve in Q420 – UOB

In opinion of Economist Barnabas Gan at UOB Group, the labour market in Singapore is likely to improve during the October-December period.

Key Quotes

“Singapore’s overall unemployment rate rose further to 3.6% in the third quarter of 2020, according to the provisional data by the Ministry of Manpower. This marks the highest unemployment rate since 2004.”

“The unemployment rate among Singaporeans and permanent residents also rose in tandem to 4.7% and 4.9%, respectively. This translated to the total number of unemployed persons to 112,500, of which 97,700 are Singaporeans.”

“Despite the softening labour market, we note that the rise in retrenchment and overall unemployment rate has decelerated from previous readings.”

“Singapore’s labour market could improve in 4Q20, given the uptick in business sentiments and economic conditions. As such, we maintain our expectation for the unemployment rate to end at 3.5% in 4Q20.”

Author

Pablo Piovano

Born and bred in Argentina, Pablo has been carrying on with his passion for FX markets and trading since his first college years.

More from Pablo Piovano
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD retreats further, clinches three-day lows

The British Pound comes under extra selling pressure at the beginning of the week, dragging GBP/USD to fresh three-day troughs near 1.3350. Cable’s steady drop follows the improved tone in the Greenback as effervescence in the Middle East remains everything but abated.

EUR/USD remains offered below 1.1400

EUR/USD builds on Friday’s pullback and revisits the 1.1380 region, or multi-day lows, in quite a negative start to the week. The pair’s extra losses come in response to the marked bounce in the US Dollar, supported at the same time by unabated tensions in the Middle East. In the meantime, investors continue to gear up for the upcoming US CPI data and the semiannual testimony by Chair Warsh.

Gold breaches below $4,000, tests monthly lows

Gold remains under marked downside pressure on Monday, breaking below the key $4,000 hurdle per troy ounce to trade closer to monthly troughs. The precious metal’s retracement comes in response to the extra recovery in the US Dollar and rising concerns surrounding the US-Iran conflict.

Bitcoin vs Gold Outlook: Sell-off fears intensify as Middle East tensions escalate
Bitcoin (BTC) and Gold (XAU) remain under pressure at the time of writing on Monday. The Crypto King has slipped below $63,000, while XAU approaches the psychologically important $4,000 support level. The drawdowns indicate that risk-averse sentiment is dominant as investors continue to assess the impact of renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The week ahead: Geopolitical risks rise, Warsh speaks to congress and earnings season gathers pace

It’s a shaky start to the week for financial markets. The oil price has risen by nearly 4% and Brent crude is trading above $79 per barrel. This comes after more attacks between the US and Iran in the Gulf, and statements from the Iranian regime that it has closed the Strait of Hormuz.

Five sessions, one round trip: Why the whipsaw is exactly what Warsh ordered

Markets opened July with a December hike as the base case and spent five trading sessions unlearning and relearning it. A 57K payrolls print bled the tightening bets out of the strip; a re-shut Strait of Hormuz is pushing them back in. Wednesday's minutes from the June FOMC meeting landed mid-round-trip, describing a world that had already stopped existing.