Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Precious Metals Rally as Silver and Platinum Outperform on Rate Cut Bets 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip After CPI-Fueled Rally as Markets Weigh Economic Uncertainty 
Dollar Holds Firm Ahead of Global Central Bank Decisions as Yen, Sterling and Euro React 
Asian Stocks Slide as AI Spending Fears and Global Central Bank Decisions Weigh on Markets 
Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Strengthens; Indian Rupee Rebounds on Intervention Hopes 
Gold and Silver Surge as Safe Haven Demand Rises on U.S. Economic Uncertainty 
Oil Prices Rebound as Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tankers 
Japan Exports to U.S. Rebound in November as Tariff Impact Eases, Boosting BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Asian Currencies Trade Sideways as Dollar Weakens Ahead of Key U.S. Data 
Japan Inflation Holds Firm in November as BOJ Nears Key Rate Hike Decision 
Singapore’s labour market remains characterised by weak job creation and slowing wage growth. According to the most recent Manpower of Ministry's (MOM) unemployment report, unemployment in Singapore has risen slightly from 2.8 percent in 2015 to 3.0 percent in 2016.
The corporate sector is unlikely to resume hiring or increase wages on a meaningful scale until unit labour costs deflate and corporate profitability is restored. The soft labour market is likely to keep private consumption subdued.
Singapore’s economy contracted in Q4 2016, the first since the global financial crisis. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) also emphasised in its October policy statement that weak private consumption is likely to weigh on core inflation which is likely to remain contained.
"We believe these difficult labour market conditions are likely to persist," said ANZ in a report.
