Singapore stocks rose this morning as remarks from US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell cemented expectations that the central bank will cut its key policy rate next month.

The Straits Times Index (STI) opened 0.4 per cent higher at 3,401.33 points after 72.9 million securities changed hands in the broader market.

In terms of companies to watch, we have Shangri-La Asia. The hotel group had on Friday posted a 28.1 per cent decline in net profit to US$94.5 million for the first half-year ended June, from US$131.4 million a year earlier. 

Elsewhere from Singapore’s factory output returning to growth to more on Apple and Google, more local and corporate headlines remain in focus. 

Also in focus – how the over 170,000 possible Starbucks drinks combinations is complicating matters for the company and whether it is beneficial for the firm to go back to the basics.

On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with David Kuo, Co-founder, The Smart Investor.