Monetary Authority of Singapore

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Monetary Authority of Singapore
Monetary Authority of Singapore.svg
Headquarters10 Shenton Way, MAS Building, Singapore 079117
Established1 January 1971;53 years ago (1971-01-01)
Ownership Government of Singapore
Key peopleLawrence Wong (Chairman)
Chia Der Juin (Managing Director)
Central bank of Singapore
Currency Singapore dollar (S$)
SGD (ISO 4217)
ReservesIncrease2.svg US$419.1 billion [1]
Bank rate 3.51% (20 July 2023) [2]
Preceded byBoard of Commissioners of Currency
Website www.mas.gov.sg

The Monetary Authority of Singapore or (MAS), is the central bank and financial regulatory authority of Singapore. It administers the various statutes pertaining to money, banking, insurance, securities and the financial sector in general, as well as currency issuance and manages the foreign-exchange reserves. It was established in 1971 to act as the banker to and as a financial agent of the Government of Singapore. [3] The body is duly accountable to the Parliament of Singapore through the Minister-in-charge, who is also the Incumbent Chairman of the central bank.

Contents

History

MAS Building on Shenton Way, headquarters of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. MASBuilding-Singapore-20090914.jpg
MAS Building on Shenton Way, headquarters of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) was founded in 1971 to oversee various monetary functions associated with banking and finance. Prior its establishment, monetary functions were performed by government departments and agencies. The acronym MAS resembles mas, the word for 'gold' in Malay, Singapore's national language—although the acronym is pronounced with each of its initial letters. [4]

As Singapore progressed, an increasingly complex banking and monetary environment required more dynamic and coherent monetary administration. Therefore, in 1970, the Parliament of Singapore passed the Monetary Authority of Singapore Act leading to the formation of MAS on 1 January 1971. The act gives MAS the authority to regulate all elements of monetary policy, banking, and finance in Singapore.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, MAS brought forward its bi-annual meeting from some time in April to 30 March. [5] The MAS decided to ease the Singapore dollar's appreciation rate to zero percent, as well as adjust the policy band downwards, the first such move since the Global Financial Crisis. This marks the first time the MAS had taken these two measures together. [6]

Unlike many central banks around the world, the MAS is not independent from the Singapore Government—the MAS is under the purview of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO); chairmen of the MAS were either former or incumbent Minister for Finance. Some includes the former Prime Ministers or the Deputy Prime Ministers.

List of chairmen

No.PortraitNameTerm of office
1 Hon Sui Sen January 1971 – July 1980
2 Goh Keng Swee August 1980 – January 1985
3 Richard Hu January 1985 – December 1997
4 Lee Hsien Loong - 20101112.jpg Lee Hsien Loong January 1998 – August 2004
5 GohChokTong-WashingtonDC-20010614.jpg Goh Chok Tong August 2004 – May 2011
6 Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the official opening of Yuan Ching Secondary School's new building, Singapore - 20100716 (cropped).jpg Tharman Shanmugaratnam May 2011 – July 2023 [7]
7 Lawrence Wong 20230526.jpg Lawrence Wong July 2023 – May 2026

Policy

Since 1981, monetary policy in Singapore is mainly conducted through the management of the exchange rate (rather than inflation targeting) of the Singapore dollar, in order to promote price stability as a basis for sustainable economic growth. The exchange rate is an intermediate target of monetary policy in the context of the small and open Singapore economy (where gross exports and imports of goods and services are more than 300 percent of GDP and almost 40 cents of every Singapore dollar spent domestically is on imports), the exchange rate represents a significantly stronger influence on inflation than the interest rate. As a result, the nominal exchange rate, directly and indirectly, affects a wide range of prices in the Singapore economy, such as import and export prices, wages and rentals, consumer prices and output prices.

MAS controls monetary policy through direct interventions in the foreign exchange markets and bears a stable and predictable relationship with the price stability as the final target of policy, over the medium-term. The Singapore dollar (SGD) is managed against a basket of currencies of Singapore's major trading partners and competitors; the various currencies are assigned weights in accordance with the importance of the country to Singapore's international trading relations (as shown below) and the composition of the basket is revised periodically to take into account any changes in trade patterns. [8]

MAS operates a managed float regime for the Singapore dollar. The tradeweighted exchange rate, which is known as the 'Singapore dollar Nominal Effective Exchange Rate' (S$NEER) is allowed to fluctuate within a policy band; the level and direction of which is announced semi-annually (typically every six months) to the market. The policy band provides a mechanism to accommodate short-term fluctuations in the foreign exchange markets and allows flexibility in managing the exchange rate.

The exchange rate policy band is periodically reviewed by MAS to ensure that the policy band remains consistent with underlying fundamentals of the economy; the path of the exchange rate is continually assessed every 6 months in order to prevent a misalignment in the currency value. A Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) is released by MAS after each review, which provides information on the recent movements of the exchange rate and explaining the forward guidance of future exchange rate policy. MAS would also release an accompanying report, the Macroeconomic Review (MR), which provides detailed information on the assessment of macroeconomic developments and trends in the Singapore economy; the MR is aimed to enhance market and public understanding of the monetary policy stance.

As the MAS utilises the choice of the exchange rate as the intermediate target of monetary policy, this implies that MAS does not have any control over domestic interest rates (and money supply), due to the commonly accepted concept in international economics known as the policy trilemma. In the context of free capital movements, interest rates in Singapore are largely determined by foreign interest rates and investor expectations of the future movements in the Singapore dollar. Singapore domestic interest rates have typically been below U.S. Fed funds interest rates and reflect market expectations of a trend appreciation of the Singapore dollar over time.

The exchange rate has emerged as an effective anti-inflation tool for the Singapore economy. In the twenty years since the exchange rate framework was in place, domestic inflation was relatively low, averaging 1.9% per annum from 1981 to 2010. As a result of the long record of low inflation, expectations of price stability in Singapore have become more entrenched over the years. The exchange rate system has also functioned to mitigate the adverse effects of short-term volatility on the real economy, while at the same time ensuring that the exchange rate remains aligned with economic conditions and fundamentals. The success of the exchange rate system is heavily dependent on the economic fundamentals of Singapore, such as prudent fiscal policy, flexible product and factor markets, sound financial system, and robust domestic corporate sector.

Debt

Singapore's debts are under the responsibility of MAS. As of 2022, the Singapore Government debt exceeds the country's GDP at about 150%. However, these are not net debts, but gross external debts, which can be traced to the debt liabilities in Singapore's banking sector—a reflection of the country's stature as a major global financial hub. In essence, Singapore borrows to invest, not to spend. Therefore, unlike other countries, Singapore is a net creditor with no debt to anyone, and has a net debt-to-GDP ratio of 0%, maintained for almost three decades since 1995. [9]

Accordingly, Singapore is the only country in Asia with a AAA sovereign credit rating from all major rating agencies. [10] For multiple years, Singapore emerged as the top country in the world with the least-risky credit rating under the Euromoney Country Risk (ECR) rankings, being one of the safest investment destinations. [11] [12] The country was also ranked as the freest economy in the world on the Index of Economic Freedom rankings. [13]

Major trading partners of Singapore

Trade performance with major trading partners [14]
Country / RegionCurrency ISO 4217 CodeCentral BankTotal Merchandise Trade Value with Singapore, 2021 (S$ bil)% of Singapore Merchandise Trade TotalTotal Services Trade Value with Singapore, 2020 (S$ bil)% of Singapore Services Trade Total
China (Mainland) Chinese yuan CNY People's Bank of China 164.314.1640.07.99
Malaysia Malaysian ringgit MYR Bank Negara Malaysia 128.711.0911.42.29
United States of America United States dollar USD Federal Reserve 105.79.12101.820.35
European Union Euro (only within Eurozone)EUR European Central Bank (only within Eurosystem)102.08.8067.213.43
Taiwan New Taiwan dollar TWD Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) 99.08.6110.72.14
Hong Kong Hong Kong HKD Hong Kong Monetary Authority 85.17.3428.75.74
Indonesia Indonesian rupiah IDR Bank Indonesia 59.15.097.61.52
South Korea South Korean won KRW Bank of Korea 56.24.859.71.93
Japan Japanese yen JPY Bank of Japan 53.94.6543.88.76
Thailand Thai baht THB Bank of Thailand 34.12.948.11.61
Australia Australian dollar AUD Reserve Bank of Australia 27.22.3531.16.21
Vietnam Vietnamese đồng VND State Bank of Vietnam 26.92.326.61.33
India Indian rupee INR Reserve Bank of India 26.82.3114.72.92
Philippines Philippine peso PHP Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 23.22.004.40.87
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates dirham AED Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates 22.31.925.11.02
Switzerland Swiss franc CHF Swiss National Bank 15.71.3521.74.33
United Kingdom Pound sterling GBP Bank of England 13.91.2023.14.61
Saudi Arabia Saudi riyal SAR Saudi Central Bank 9.60.821.20.24
Cambodia Cambodian riel KHR National Bank of Cambodia 9.20.800.40.08
New Zealand New Zealand dollar NZD Reserve Bank of New Zealand 3.90.343.60.72
Myanmar Myanmar kyat MMK Central Bank of Myanmar 3.60.310.70.14
Canada Canadian dollar CAD Bank of Canada 3.00.264.40.88

Issuing banknotes and coins

Following its merger with the Board of Commissioners of Currency on 1 October 2002, the MAS assumed the function of currency issuance.

MAS has the exclusive right to issue banknotes and coins in Singapore. Their dimensions, designs and denominations are determined by the Monetary Policy Committee with Government approval. The banknotes and coins issued have the status of legal tender within the country for all transactions, both public and private, without limitation.

In December 2020, MAS approved digital bank licenses for 4 tech giants, GrabSingtel consortium, Ant Group, Sea Group, and Greenland Financial consortium. [15] Grab-Singtel and Sea Group were awarded digital full banking licenses, while Ant Group and Greenland Financial were awarded digital wholesale banking licenses. [16] In May 2021, the ability to transfer money between Singapore's PayNow and Thailand's PromptPay was announced. [17]

Strategic initiatives

ASEAN Financial Innovation Network

ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN) is a non-profit organisation, established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), ASEAN Bankers Association (ABA), and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group in 2018. AFIN launched the Application Programming Interface Exchange (APIX), a global fintech marketplace and regulatory sandbox in 2018. [18] [19]

Asian Institute of Digital Finance

The Asian Institute of Digital Finance (AIDF) is a research institute to enhance education, research and entrepreneurship in digital finance. [20] AIDF is a collaboration between the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the National Research Foundation and the National University of Singapore (NUS) and was established in 2021. [20] [21]

Singapore FinTech Festival

Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore visiting Singapore FinTech Festival exhibition pavilion with Ravi Menon, managing director, Monetary Authority of Singapore in 2019. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore at SFF.png
Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore visiting Singapore FinTech Festival exhibition pavilion with Ravi Menon, managing director, Monetary Authority of Singapore in 2019.

Elevandi (an institution established by MAS) organises Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) annually in partnership with The Association of Banks in Singapore and in collaboration with SingEx Holdings, to connect the various FinTech communities around the world to interact with each other. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

A currency is a standardization of money in any form, in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, for example banknotes and coins. A more general definition is that a currency is a system of money in common use within a specific environment over time, especially for people in a nation state. Under this definition, the British Pound sterling (£), euros (€), Japanese yen (¥), and U.S. dollars (US$) are examples of (government-issued) fiat currencies. Currencies may act as stores of value and be traded between nations in foreign exchange markets, which determine the relative values of the different currencies. Currencies in this sense are either chosen by users or decreed by governments, and each type has limited boundaries of acceptance; i.e., legal tender laws may require a particular unit of account for payments to government agencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central bank</span> Government body that manages currency and monetary policy

A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is an institution that manages the currency and monetary policy of a country or monetary union. In contrast to a commercial bank, a central bank possesses a monopoly on increasing the monetary base. Many central banks also have supervisory or regulatory powers to ensure the stability of commercial banks in their jurisdiction, to prevent bank runs, and in some cases also to enforce policies on financial consumer protection and against bank fraud, money laundering, or terrorism financing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Singapore</span>

The economy of Singapore is a highly developed mixed market economy with dirigiste characteristics. Singapore's economy has been consistently ranked as the most open in the world, the joint 4th-least corrupt, and the most pro-business. Singapore has low tax-rates and the highest per-capita GDP in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is headquartered in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Currency substitution</span> Use of a foreign currency in parallel to or instead of a domestic currency

Currency substitution is the use of a foreign currency in parallel to or instead of a domestic currency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Asian financial crisis</span> Financial crisis of many Asian countries during the second half of 1997

The 1997 Asian financial crisis was a period of financial crisis that gripped much of East and Southeast Asia during the late 1990s. The crisis began in Thailand in July 1997 before spreading to several other countries with a ripple effect, raising fears of a worldwide economic meltdown due to financial contagion. However, the recovery in 1998–1999 was rapid, and worries of a meltdown quickly subsided.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reserve Bank of India</span> Central Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India, abbreviated as RBI, is India's central bank and regulatory body responsible for regulation of the Indian banking system. It is under the ownership of Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It is responsible for the control, issue and maintaining supply of the Indian rupee. It also manages the country's main payment systems and works to promote its economic development. Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran (BRBNM) is a specialised division of RBI through which it prints and mints Indian currency notes (INR) in two of its currency printing presses located in Mysore and Salboni. The RBI, along with the Indian Banks' Association, established the National Payments Corporation of India to promote and regulate the payment and settlement systems in India. Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation was established by RBI as one of its specialized division for the purpose of providing insurance of deposits and guaranteeing of credit facilities to all Indian banks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DBS Bank</span> Singaporean multinational banking and financial services company

DBS Bank Limited, often known as DBS, is a Singaporean multinational banking and financial services corporation headquartered at the Marina Bay Financial Centre in the Marina Bay district of Singapore. The bank was previously known as The Development Bank of Singapore Limited, which "DBS" was derived from, before the present abbreviated name was adopted on 21 July 2003 to reflect its role as a global bank. It is one of the "Big Three" banks in Singapore, along with OCBC Bank and the United Overseas Bank (UOB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monetary policy</span> Policy of interest rates or money supply

Monetary policy is the policy adopted by the monetary authority of a nation to affect monetary and other financial conditions to accomplish broader objectives like high employment and price stability. Further purposes of a monetary policy may be to contribute to economic stability or to maintain predictable exchange rates with other currencies. Today most central banks in developed countries conduct their monetary policy within an inflation targeting framework, whereas the monetary policies of most developing countries' central banks target some kind of a fixed exchange rate system. A third monetary policy strategy, targeting the money supply, was widely followed during the 1980s, but has diminished in popularity since that, though it is still the official strategy in a number of emerging economies.

The Singapore dollar is the official currency of the Republic of Singapore. It is divided into 100 cents. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issues the banknotes and coins of the Singapore dollar.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is Hong Kong's central banking institution. It is a government authority founded on 1 April 1993 when the Office of the Exchange Fund and the Office of the Commissioner of Banking merged. The organisation reports directly to the Financial Secretary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas</span> Central bank of the Philippines

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money creation</span> Process by which the money supply of an economic region is increased

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International finance is the branch of financial economics broadly concerned with monetary and macroeconomic interrelations between two or more countries. International finance examines the dynamics of the global financial system, international monetary systems, balance of payments, exchange rates, foreign direct investment, and how these topics relate to international trade.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money</span> Object or record accepted as payment

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