AI Cushions the Blow but US Tariffs Draw Blood as MAS Backs Growth

MAS dropped its most confident assessment of 2026 on Sunday: Singapore's economy will stay on a firm growth trajectory for the rest of the year, with the global AI boom acting as a buffer against rising oil prices and a fresh wave of US tariffs. The central bank singled out the tech sector as growing faster than usual and expected to carry most of the GDP weight — a remarkable vote of confidence given the external headwinds. The money agrees. HSBC announced it is...