Singapore raised its 2026 GDP forecast to 4.5%-5.5% from 2%-4% after second-quarter growth was revised up to 5.9% from the 5.7% advance estimate, marking its second upward revision this year from the initial 1%-3% range. First-half growth reached 6.1%, with the economy expanding 1.4% on a seasonally adjusted quarterly basis in April-June and manufacturing, wholesale trade, finance and insurance leading the quarter. The Trade Ministry said AI-related sectors and exports outperformed expectations and that the U.S.-Iran conflict hurt growth less than feared as oil inventory drawdowns and substitution toward alternative energy capped energy prices. Enterprise Singapore had also lifted its 2026 non-oil domestic exports forecast to 14%-16% from 3%-5%, while the Monetary Authority of Singapore tightened policy in late July as core inflation rose to 1.6% in June and headline inflation stood at 1.9%.