Singapore Central Bank Keeps Policy Unchanged, Sees Stronger Economic Growth Ahead

Singapore’s central bank left its monetary policy settings unchanged for a fifth straight time as it tweaked its economic outlook, expecting cooler inflation and stronger growth, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said that it would maintain the prevailing rate of appreciation of the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate policy band. There will be no change to the width and the level at which the S$NEER policy band is centered, the MAS said Friday.
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Singapore Banks Probe Rich Clients After Laundering Case

Citigroup Inc., DBS Group Holdings Ltd. and other banks caught up in Singapore’s biggest money-laundering scandal are ramping up scrutiny of their wealthy customers and potential clients to avoid exposure to illicit flows, Bloomberg News reported. Private bankers at several institutions are also receiving additional training to help them spot tricks used by criminals to mask their backgrounds and sources of funds, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private matters.
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Singapore’s Economy on Track as Inflation Steadies, Trade Improves

Singapore’s economy looks on track for a strong year, with hopes underpinned by better-than-expected growth, steadying inflation and improving trade, the Wall Street Journal reported. The city-state’s economy, one of the richest in Southeast Asia, picked up in the first quarter of the year as growth in the services sector helped offset weakness in manufacturing. Gross domestic product expanded 2.7% compared with the same period a year earlier, according to revised data released by the Ministry of Trade & Industry on Thursday. That improved on the fourth quarter’s 2.2% expansion.
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AI Lacks Judgement to Set Interest Rates, Singapore Central Bank Head Says

Artificial intelligence lacks the human judgement skills needed to set interest rates, the head of the Monetary Authority of Singapore said on Monday, Reuters reported. But AI could make it easier for criminals to launch cyber attacks, said Chia Der Jiun, managing director of Singapore's central bank. He said AI was being used in some economic models and in areas such as fraud detection, but stressed it was not at a stage where it could "supplant human judgement". "There is a great deal of judgement involved in understanding and having a view as to the forward path of inflation...
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