US stocks hit record high as Middle East tensions ease: Weekly Market Recap

One survey caught my eye this week. 

According to a survey by European asset manager Amundi, 79% of Singaporeans said they felt confident about their long term financial plans. Yet only 23% believed they were on track to achieve the retirement income they would need.

This made me wonder how many of us feel financially confident on the surface, while quietly questioning whether we are really doing enough for the future. That is why this week’s Money Diaries podcast about building financial resilience felt so relevant to me.

Many financial plans assume life will unfold neatly and in order. But life may not always go according to plan. In this episode, we hear from someone whose carefully laid plans were upended by a pandemic, a delayed BTO, and a surprise pregnancy, all at the same time. It is a reminder that financial resilience is also about how we adjust when life throws us a feel surprises before we feel ready.

To me, the best way to turn confidence into a more resilient long term financial plan is to invest in a way that helps us steadily move towards our goals.

For many investors, this may start with Singapore blue chip stocks and REITs. This week, we look at OCBC, whose share price recently reached a new all time high despite broader market weakness, and explore why it has outperformed DBS and UOB. We also highlight three Singapore REITs with dividend yields of above 6%.

Having a sufficient cash set aside for a rainy day also helps, and this is why I make sure my liquidity pot is well taken care of.  This week, we saw an increase in the 1 year T bill yield, and we look at what this could mean for the upcoming 6 month T bill auction.

And if you have been wondering how to find growth in uncertain markets , join us at our upcoming event on 28 April. Our team will be there to break down the key market themes and answer your questions directly. Sign up for free here.

I hope to see you there.

Gerald, Founder of Beansprout

⏰ This Week In Markets

📊 Stocks hit all-time highs on signs of de-escalation in Middle East conflict

What happened? 

There were further signs of de-escalation in the Middle East conflict, with both President Trump and Iran’s foreign minister confirming that the Strait of Hormuz is open for commercial vessels.

This came as the U.S.-Iran ceasefire continued to hold, adding to hopes that tensions may not escalate further.

What does this mean?

Markets appear to be more comfortable with the view that the recent geopolitical shock may not turn into a prolonged disruption to global oil supply.

As oil prices fell, U.S. government bond yields also moved lower on easing concerns about inflation staying elevated. 

That said, the near term backdrop may still be volatile. The ceasefire remains fragile, oil prices could swing again, and upcoming earnings and economic data will be important in determining whether the rally can continue.

Why should I care?

U.S. stocks rallied strongly, with the S&P 500 reaching a fresh record closing high. 

The rally was led by technology stocks, with the Nasdaq also reaching a new record high. 

Singapore stocks moved higher with the Straits Times Index (STI) reaching close to 5,000. Singapore REITs were among the stronger gainers as bond yields eased, as Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust rose 4.8%, Mapletree Logistics Trust gained 4.2%, and Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust climbed 2.9%.

🚗  Moving This Week

• SIA Group’s passenger traffic rose 14.7% year on year in March, helping it deliver a record 42.4 million passengers for FY2026.The group carried 3.8 million passengers in March, up 14.9%, while annual passenger numbers rose 7.7% from the previous record of 39.4 million set in FY2025. March passenger traffic outpaced capacity growth, pushing the passenger load factor up 5.9 percentage points to 90.6%. Read more here.
• DBS has stepped up its commitment to Hong Kong’s wealth market, with its local unit acquiring six more floors at The Center for US$334.29 million in the city’s largest commercial property deal this year. The purchase takes DBS Hong Kong’s total ownership to 14 floors at the office tower. The bank said the investment reflects its long-term confidence in Hong Kong’s role as a leading international financial and wealth management hub. Read more here.
• Keppel DC REIT reported 1Q DPU of S$0.02833, up 13.2% from a year earlier, while distributable income rose 20.7% to S$74.6 million. The stronger performance was driven by solid portfolio performance and contributions from the acquisitions of Tokyo Data Centre 3 and the remaining stakes in Keppel DC Singapore 3 and 4. Read more here.
• Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust has completed the acquisition of a freehold logistics asset in Hapert, the Netherlands, for 43 million euros (S$64.4 million). The deal was completed on Apr 15 and was struck at a 3.3% discount to the property’s February independent valuation of 44.45 million euros. Read more here.
• StarHub is giving up majority control of Ensign InfoSecurity to Temasek in a S$115 million deal, ending a seven-year governance arrangement and allowing the telco to book a gain of more than S$200 million. The move will let StarHub partially monetise its stake in Ensign while retaining a strategic interest, with the proceeds to be redeployed into core and strategic business investments. Read more here.
• Yangzijiang Maritime has secured US$89.8 million of leasing agreements covering 13 vessels, as it builds more recurring income amid tighter global shipping capacity. The contracts cover 12 oil, chemical and product tankers and one anchor handling tug supply vessel, with lease terms ranging from one to eight years. The group said the deals are expected to contribute positively to earnings over their duration. Read more here.

Source: Bloomberg, CNBC, Business Times, Edge Singapore

💡 The Big Important Story

OCBC has outpaced DBS and UOB in 2026. Is its 4.3% dividend yield still attractive?

The share price of OCBC has hit an all-time high in April 2026. With a forward dividend yield of 4.3%, we find out if OCBC is more attractive than DBS and UOB.

🤓 What we're looking out for next week

• Tuesday. 21 April: Keppel REIT, OUE REIT earnings
• Wednesday. 22 April: Tesla earnings, Digital Core REIT earnings
• Thursday, 23 April: Keppel, Suntec REIT, Ifast, CapitaLand China Trust, Intel earnings, 6-month Singapore T-bill auction
• Friday, 24 April: CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT), CapitaLand India Trust, Frasers Centrepoint Trust (FCT), Elite UK REIT earnings

Get the full list of stocks with upcoming dividends here. 

Source: SGX, Bloomberg, Refinitiv

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