The Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) did not publish any material regulatory updates in January 2026. External asset managers may thus focus on their regular operations, including compliance activities with the Compliance Toolkit for Approvals, Notifications and Other Regulatory Submissions to MAS for Fund Managers revised on 30 January 2026.

Reporting obligations continue with the MAS-MOM Joint Manpower Data Collection 2026 released on 9 January and open for submission between 12 and 27 February via MOM-MRSD’s survey portal.

On 16 January 2026, MAS released the 2025 Asset Management Survey. Submission date opens on 23 January and must be submitted by 2 March.

A circular issued on 30 January regarding Update on Implementation of Full Quarterly Fund Data Collection, reflects MAS’ shift toward continuous visibility on AUM, investor composition, and exposures.  MAS targets to implement the Full QDC for official data collection on 24 February 2026. Fund managers that have already submitted Basic QDC for data as of 31 December 2025 will need to resubmit their responses using the new form. This first QDC submission, combining both Basic and Full QDC sections, will be extended to 31 March to facilitate the transition.

Additionally, fund managers should prepare for the MASNET decommissioning, as MAS shifts regulatory submissions and data‑exchange functions to its new MAS‑Tx environment; while MASNET access remains temporarily available till date, firms should migrate internal processes promptly to avoid disruption to statutory submissions such as QDC and other regulatory returns.

On other developments, on 22 January 2026, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) introduced the world’s first Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI, a significant development for fund managers increasingly integrating automation, analytics, and AI‑driven operational workflows. The framework provides structured guidance for bounding risks, ensuring meaningful human accountability, implementing lifecycle technical controls, and maintaining transparent end‑user practices. These are critical considerations for fund managers adopting autonomous or semi‑autonomous AI tools in portfolio operations, trade processing, compliance monitoring, or client‑servicing workflows.

Taking the lead from the Straits Times Index’s 60th Anniversary event, here’s wishing everyone 龙马精神，马到功成, and to wish our local equities market 一马当先，骏马腾飞, or as we say in Hokkien, “bo beh zao” (没马跑) (meaning incomparable).