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STI appears set for 5,740 as firmer interest rates stymie REIT index

Goola Warden
Goola Warden • 2 min read
STI appears set for 5,740 as firmer interest rates stymie REIT index
The STI appears set for higher levels while firmer interest rates are likely to curb a recovery by the FTSE REIT Index
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At new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's first Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on June 16-17, the Federal Reserve’s Fed Funds Target Rate (FFTR) remained at 3.50%–3.75% as widely expected, with a unanimous vote (12-0). However, the dot plot pointed to nine officials penciling in at least one rate hike this year, eight expecting no change, and one expecting a rate cut. The betting markets (Polymarket and Kalshi) have 77% (of the betters) expecting no rate cuts before 2027.

A report by UOB Global Economics and Markets Research points to an extended pause in 2026, followed by a resumption of easing in 2027. “We note rising risks of rate hikes with inflation data and geopolitical developments key to shaping future expectations,” the report says.

Although there has been little “pass-through” from heightened US rates since early 2025, three-month compounded Sora appears to have found a floor at 1.02% in late April and has since moved to 1.08% as of June 19. In addition, the yield of the 10-year Singapore government bond rebounded from 1.91% in mid-Feb to 2.06% as of June 19. REITs' unit prices depend on the difference between their DPU yields and risk-free rates.

Against this background, the FTSE REIT Index is unlikely to catch up with the Straits Times Index’s performance this year despite a spate of reports suggesting that S-REITs could experience something of a comeback. The most positive reading of the REIT Index’s chart is that prices are attempting to bottom at 660 compared to its last done price of 669 on June 19. Some positive divergences have developed between quarterly momentum and price, and 21-day RSI and price. But the chart pattern doesn’t point to the index nearing a breakout level.

See also: Fed watch, Anthropic-OpenAI price war, SpaceX IPO, World Cup

The STI closed at 5,192, up 167 points week-on-week despite declining by 20 points on Friday, June 19. The chart pattern continues to look positive when measured against the STI’s 50- and 100-day moving averages, which in turn had drawn together, and are currently drawing apart as they rise. This is often a bullish signal. The upside remains at 5,740, and the support level of the current swing has been established at 5,000.

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