Far-flung Singapore investors can’t ignore Trump’s far-reaching tendencies

ON THE face of it, Donald Trump’s political manoeuvres might seem far removed from Singapore’s stock market.

The US president’s moves to rename the Gulf of Mexico, mandate government employees to return to office and chastise the Ukrainian president may seem entertaining but remote to investors here.

However, the globalised nature of trade, finance and geopolitics means that no economy is immune to his influence.

Recent developments involving locally-listed companies – such as Hutchison Port’s sale of Panama assets and movements in Yangzijiang Shipbuilding’s share price – underscore how interconnected the Singapore market is with the shifting tides of global events.

As Trump makes headlines, investors in Singapore need to stay vigilant, especially as his rhetoric and policies could have wide-ranging consequences for stocks here.