<div id="readability-page-1"><div> By Megan Cheah <pre></pre> SINGAPORE--Singapore's central bank tightened monetary policy settings for the first time in over three years as it braces for the economic fallout from the war in the Middle East. Policymakers in the city-state are walking a tightrope being trod by central banks the world over: act now to cap inflation at the risk of curbing growth, or wait and risk falling behind the curve. Most other central banks in Asia have held steady for now, but the Monetary Authority of Singapore opted to move sooner rather than later, ending a pause stretching back to July 2025--a year during which it loosened policy settings twice to prop up growth against tariffs risks. It joins Australia as the only central bank in the region to have tightened so far since the U.S.-Israel war with Iran broke out. The MAS's decision was expected by most analysts polled by The Wall Street Journal, as the conflict disrupts critical supply routes, driving up prices of oil and other commodities the small, open economy relies on. That echoes some of the conditions seen after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which was the last time the MAS tightened. Like its peers elsewhere, the MAS expressed alarm over the widening impact of the Middle East war, which disproportionately affects Asia's largely energy-importing economies. It painted a grim picture of the risks ahead. Singapore's economic growth will slow over the course of this year, and inflation will rise more than initially anticipated, the central bank said. Already, the city-state's imported energy costs are up as hostilities choke off the Strait of Hormuz--a supply route through which Asia gets a significant amount of its power needs and other critical commodities like fertilizers. Hopes that progress was being made on restoring flows via the strait dimmed when the U.S.-Iran peace talks collapsed over the weekend, and President Trump ordered a naval blockade. However, talks are ongoing. On Tuesday, the MAS warned that prices of a wider range of imported goods and services are set to increase in the quarters ahead. As more input costs climb, profitability in more sectors will be squeezed, and shortages could curtail industrial production. &#34;Even if supplies from the Middle East are restored, global energy prices are likely to remain elevated for some time,&#34; it said. Advance estimates showed that Singapore's economy is already feeling the strain, with first-quarter growth slowing on the year. On a seasonally-adjusted quarterly basis, the economy contracted--its weakest results in nearly five years. Purchasing managers survey data has indicated building pressure on the financial hub's manufacturers, and the government has warned consumers and businesses to prepare for a lasting economic hit even if a resolution is reached soon. Officials have announced a US$778 million package to help companies and households deal with the pressure. The central bank now expects core and headline inflation to reach 1.5% to 2.5% this year, up from the 1.0% to 2.0% predicted previously. Consequently, policymakers will slightly increase the rate of appreciation of the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate policy band. No changes will be made to the width and level at which the band is centered. Instead of lowering or raising interest rates, the MAS uses currency as a policy tool to reduce inflationary expectations and boost growth as trade flows dwarf the island nation's domestic activity. Despite the considerable uncertainty, the central bank said it is well-placed to respond effectively to any risk to medium-term price stability. &#34;[The] MAS also stands ready to curb excessive volatility&#34; in the policy band, it said. <pre></pre> --Fabiana Negrin Ochoa contributed to this report <pre></pre> Write to Megan Cheah at megan.cheah@wsj.com <pre></pre> (END) Dow Jones Newswires April 13, 2026 22:16 ET (02:16 GMT)Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones &amp; Company, Inc.</div></div>

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新加坡中央銀行在三年多以來首次收緊貨幣政策，以應對來自中東衝突的經濟挑戰。新加坡金融管理局（MAS）旨在抑制通貨膨脹，同時管理增長風險，成為該地區少數採取行動的中央銀行之一，和澳大利亞並列。MAS 預計經濟增長將放緩，通貨膨脹將上升，將其通貨膨脹預測調整為 1.5% 至 2.5%。同時，宣佈了一項價值 7.78 億美元的支持計劃，以幫助企業和家庭應對不斷上升的成本和潛在的生產短缺

Singapore Central Bank Tightens Policy as It Braces for Slower Growth, Higher Prices — Update

- 新加坡中央銀行首次在三年內收緊貨幣政策以應對中東戰爭的經濟影響。  
- 央行預計今年經濟增長將放緩，通脹將超出之前的預期。  
- 並且，預計進口商品和服務的價格將在未來幾個季度內上漲。

新加坡央行收緊政策以應對經濟增長放緩和物價上漲——更新