UPDATE 1-Singapore central bank keeps monetary policy unchanged, as expected

(Adds central bank comment) SINGAPORE, Oct 14 (Reuters) – Singapore's central bank kept its monetary policy settings unchanged on Tuesday, as most analysts polled by Reuters had expected. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it will maintain the prevailing rate of appreciation of its exchange rate-based policy band known as the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate, or S$NEER. There would be no change to the width of the policy band or the level at which it is centred. "Singapore’s economic growth has turned out stronger than expected and the output gap will remain positive in 2025 and come in around 0% next year," the central bank said in a statement. "MAS Core Inflation should trough in the near term and rise gradually over the course of 2026 as temporary factors dampening inflation fade." Ten of 14 analysts polled by Reuters ahead of the review expected the MAS to keep policy settings unchanged, citing resilient growth despite a slowdown in trade due to U.S. tariffs. The other four had expected an easing. The decision came as preliminary government data showed the economy grew 2.9% in the third quarter from a year earlier. (Reporting by Xinghui Kok and Jun Yuan Yong; Editing by John Mair and Sam Holmes)

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