Monday Wrap: Wealth inflows, industrial shift, and condo resale slump

The wealth management sector is boosted by the geopolitical situation.

Last week in Singapore Business Review, global instability is driving capital into Singapore’s wealth management sector, the industrial market remains resilient yet more selective, and condo resale volumes fell despite a slight monthly rebound.

Global instability is boosting Singapore’s wealth management sector, with Bloomberg Intelligence citing expected inflows amidst geopolitical risks, alongside 4.6% GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1) and core inflation rising to 1.7% in March, reinforcing its safe-haven appeal.

Geopolitical tensions and rising costs are driving a “flight-to-quality” in the industrial market, with investors and occupiers shifting toward high-spec logistics and AI-linked assets whilst older business parks and warehouses face weaker demand, according to analysts.

Condo resale volumes fell 22.7% year-on-year in March to 944 units, as high prices and affordability pressures kept activity 20% below the five-year average despite a slight monthly recovery, according to SRX data.

Elsewhere, the private residential market is seeing stable prices but weaker transaction volumes, as geopolitical risks, inflation, and higher rates make buyers more selective despite demand holding in key new launches.

Singapore’s FTSE ST Technology Index rose 18% as capital shifted toward physical AI infrastructure such as semiconductors and data centres, with SGX Group noting it was among the index’s strongest monthly gains on record.

The corporate sector held $14.4t in assets in Q1, marking a record high driven by strong corporate balance sheets and investment activity, according to SingStat data.

Lastly, the GDP outlook for 2026 has been revised higher to about 5.2% after March industrial production rose 10.1% year on year, driven by electronics and semiconductor output, according to analysts.