MONEY MASTER

Economists at  UOB  and  RHB Bank Singapore  have lowered their inflation forecasts for Singapore in 2025, while  Maybank  and  DBS  maintained their outlooks amid easing price pressures and ongoing global uncertainties. UOB’s  Jester Koh  revised his 2025 core inflation estimate to  0.6%  and 2026 to  1.1% , while RHB’s  Barnabas Gan  and  Laalitha Raveenthar  cut their full-year headline and core forecasts to  1.2%  and  0.9%  respectively. Both moves follow June’s  core inflation holding steady at 0.6% y-o-y , below Bloomberg consensus and UOB’s earlier forecast. By contrast,  Maybank Securities’ Chua Hak Bin  and  Brian Lee Shun Rong  held their 2025 core inflation at  0.5%  and headline at  0.8% , citing a resilient domestic outlook despite tariff risks.  DBS Research’s Chua Han Teng  kept his forecast within the Monetary Authori...

Momentum Accelerates Toyota Motor Corp. posted its  third consecutive monthly sales record  in May, clocking in  955,532 vehicles sold globally , an 8% jump from a year ago. Production also held strong at  906,984 units . The surge was driven by  robust hybrid vehicle demand  across key markets: North America: +11% Japan: +4% China: +7% A Price Hike Ahead Toyota plans to raise  US vehicle prices by over $200  starting next month, aligning with competitors like Mitsubishi Motors — a move that reflects both rising costs and the looming tariff impact from the U.S.-China trade war. The Tariff Shock While sales remain strong, Japanese automakers are bracing for a significant blow: Toyota expects a  ¥180 billion ($1.2B) loss from tariffs  just for April-May. Nissan and Honda are forecasting  $3B hits . Mazda and Subaru have  withheld profit guidance  amid uncertainty. Investor Insight: Can Toyota Maintain Its Lead? Despite geopo...

Wheat futures on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) dropped on Monday following weather forecasts predicting much-needed rainfall in the drought-affected US Plains. Analysts noted that rains could help replenish moisture levels in key wheat-growing regions, with the Commodity Weather Group reporting that weekend showers had alleviated winter wheat deficits in the Midwest and Plains. Corn and soybeans also edged lower, driven by profit-taking after multi-month highs on Friday and a slight uptick in the US dollar, which can make US grains less competitive globally. The CBOT's most-active soybean futures declined by eight cents, settling at $10.22 1/4 per bushel , while wheat fell by seven cents to $5.65 1/2 per bushel , and corn dropped by one cent to $4.30 per bushel . The US Department of Agriculture recently revealed that farmers grew fewer soybeans and corn this season due to dry conditions, though production levels remain robust, marking the second-largest soy harvest and third-l...