Singapore central bank will likely stand pat at semiannual monetary policy meet on Oct. 14 as any tightening could hurt export sector, invite speculative inflows, says Dow Jones.

SGD already up around 7.0% vs USD so far this year, making it one of best performers in Asia. In April, MAS raised target band for SGD, targeted a “modest, gradual appreciation” for currency on trade-weighted basis.

Ravi Menon, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry said in September expects “sharp slowdown” in sequential growth for 2H 2010 as growth in key export markets falters.