Stocks rebound and oil dips on US-Iran ceasefire: Weekly Market Recap

I was invited to a briefing by Singtel and CPF this week on the exercise to transfer Singtel Special Discounted Shares, or SDS, to the individual CDP accounts of 615,000 investors.

During the session, I learnt that Singaporeans could buy Singtel SDS using their CPF savings back in 1993 and 1996. For those who held on, an initial investment of about $2,000 would be worth around $6,800 today, on top of roughly $5,000 in cumulative dividends.

To me, that is the power of investing and compounding over time, even though markets can be volatile and returns are never guaranteed.

If you are holding Singtel SDS, we break down the options available and what you may want to consider.

Even with recent market volatility, several stocks in Singapore’s next 50 indices still posted sizeable gains in 1Q26. We look at what has been driving these moves, and whether there may still be opportunities worth watching.

For me, staying invested for the long term starts with knowing that my emergency cash and near term liquidity needs are already taken care of.

This week, we also saw the 6 month T bill yield rise further to 1.47%. We compare the latest T bill yield against fixed deposits and savings accounts, and highlight what to look out for in the upcoming 1 year T bill auction.

For income focused investors, we also look at the CapitaLand Ascendas REIT preferential offering. Beyond blue chip REITs, we take a closer look at Stoneweg Europe Stapled Trust, and in our latest podcast episode, speak to the CEO about why Europe remains a market many investors still overlook.

As I reflect on the Singtel briefing, what is remarkable to me is that 615,000 investors are still holding these Singtel SDS shares today. For many, that could mean having around $6,800 in value sitting there right now.

Sometimes, we think investing only makes a difference if we start with a lot. But this is a reminder that even a relatively small sum, left to grow over time, can become something far more meaningful.

If you ever need a reason to start investing, just think about what $6,800 could do.

Happy growing!

Gerald, Founder of Beansprout

⏰ This Week In Markets

📊 Stocks jump on US-Iran ceasefire

What happened? 

The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two week ceasefire, on the condition that Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for about a fifth of global oil flows. 

U.S. President Donald Trump described the development as “a total and complete victory”.

However, the ceasefire remained fragile. Iran accused the U.S. and Israel of breaching the agreement, while signs on the ground suggested the Strait of Hormuz blockade had not yet been meaningfully lifted.

What does this mean?

The ceasefire helped calm markets, as fears of a wider disruption to global oil supply started to ease. Oil prices fell sharply, giving investors some relief after worries that higher energy prices could add to inflation.

Even so, inflation remains a concern. March CPI came in above expectations, suggesting consumers are still feeling the impact of higher energy costs. 

With inflation staying sticky, the Federal Reserve is now widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its April 28 to 29 meeting.

Why should I care?

The ceasefire sparked a broad relief rally in global markets, with investors moving back into risk assets as fears of a deeper geopolitical shock eased.

U.S. stocks rebounded strongly, led by technology and semiconductor names, with the S&P 500 posting its best week since November.

In Singapore, improving sentiment also lifted stocks, with the Straits Times Index climbing above the 5,000 level during the week.

SGX led the gains on stronger trading volumes, while Singapore REITs also rebounded as Singapore 10 year government bond yields eased. Among the stronger performers were Keppel DC REIT, Frasers Logistics and Commercial Trust, and Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust.

🚗  Moving This Week

• Singtel and CPF have started an exercise to transfer Singtel Special Discounted Shares (SDS) from the CPF Board to the individual CDP accounts of eligible shareholders. The Singtel Special Discounted Shares scheme was first introduced in 1993 as part of a government effort to encourage wider share ownership among Singaporeans. Learn more about what investors can do here.
• SGX trading activity picked up sharply in March, with total securities market turnover rising 78% year on year to S$52.8 billion. Securities daily average value climbed 62% to S$2.4 billion. On a month-on-month basis, turnover rose 37%, while daily average value increased 12.1%. 

Source: Bloomberg, CNBC, Business Times, Edge Singapore

💡 The Big Important Story

Where to park your cash for higher yield? T-bills vs Fixed Deposit vs SSB (April 2026)

We share the best ways to earn a yield on your cash through Singapore T-bills, fixed deposits, SSBs and money market funds in April 2026.

🤓 What we're looking out for next week

• Monday. 13 April: Goldman Sachs earnings
• Tuesday. 14 April: Blackrock, JPMorgan, Citigroup earnings
• Wednesday. 15 April: Bank of America, Morgan Stanley earnings
• Thursday, 16 April: 12-month Singapore T-bill auction

Get the full list of stocks with upcoming dividends here. 

Source: SGX, Bloomberg, Refinitiv

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