Singapore’s Straits Times Index closed at 5,680.46 on Monday, down 8.50 points or 0.14%, after July core consumer price inflation accelerated to 2.0% year on year from 1.6% in June, while headline inflation rose to 2.2% from 1.9%, the highest since August 2024. Both readings undershot Reuters survey forecasts of 2.2% for core and 2.3% for headline. Selling concentrated in retail names tied to food and daily necessities on concerns that firmer prices could slow personal consumption and pressure earnings, though selected bank stocks and real estate investment trusts showed resilience. The data followed June electricity and gas tariff increases and a surprise July tightening by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, which uses the Singapore dollar’s policy band as its main tool. Authorities have warned inflation could stay elevated into the first half of 2027 even as the economy expands, with the 2026 GDP growth forecast raised to 4.5%–5.5% after second-quarter growth of 5.9% and strong artificial-intelligence-related export demand.