The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a global interest rate benchmark used to determine interest rates for various financial instruments.

Since the global financial crisis in 2008-2009, underlying transactions supporting LIBOR have fallen. On 5 March 2021, ICE Benchmark Administrator and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)  confirmed that all LIBOR settings will either cease to be provided by an administrator or will no longer be representative:

• Immediately after 31 December 2021, in the case of all Sterling, Euro, Swiss Franc and Japanese Yen LIBOR settings, and the 1-week and 2-month US dollar (USD) LIBOR settings; and  
• Immediately after 30 June 2023, in the case of the remaining USD LIBOR settings. 

Consequently, the Singapore Dollar Swap Offer Rate (SOR) will also be discontinued immediately after 30 June 2023 across all tenor settings, as SOR relies on USD LIBOR in its computation. The Singapore Overnight Rate Average (SORA) has been identified as the alternative reference rate to replace SOR in the Singapore Dollar (SGD) interest rate market.

The Singapore Interbank Offered Rate (SIBOR) will similarly be discontinued immediately after 31 December 2024 to support the shift towards a SORA-centred SGD interest rate landscape. This will avoid market fragmentation, facilitate easier comparison of loan pricing, and promote the development of deep and efficient SORA markets in the long run.

The industry-wide transition of SGD interest rate benchmarks is overseen by the Steering Committee for SOR & SIBOR Transition to SORA (SC-STS) , which comprises senior representatives from the industry and MAS.

Impact to Financial Institutions (FIs)

The transition to alternative reference rates (ARRs) will impact the pricing and valuation of financial instruments that FIs hold and offer to customers. FIs would no longer be able to reference LIBOR, SOR and SIBOR for charging interest on loans or paying interest on deposits once the benchmark ceases. 

• FIs should ensure that its operating systems and business processes are ready to offer financial products based on the relevant ARRs to ensure a smooth transition to a new interest rate regime. As such, FIs should identify all impacted systems and undertake system upgrades where required.
• FIs should put in place detailed action plans for contract remediation (e.g. identifying contracts that reference LIBOR, SOR and SIBOR and working with customers to amend these contracts to ensure their continuity after the benchmark ceases).

Impact to Customers

Customers with floating rate products such as loans, investments and derivatives contracts that reference the impacted benchmarks (SOR/SIBOR/LIBOR)should approach their FIs to understand whether changes to their contracts to provide for an ARR are necessary.

We encourage customers to familiariseCustomers may refer to SC-STS publications for further information themselves with the need for transition and the options available to transition to an ARR. FIs have been reaching out to customers with LIBOR/ SOR contracts to let them know how they will be impacted. As SIBOR will be discontinued at a later date, FIs will reach out to customers with SIBOR contracts in due course to advise them on their options. 

What is replacing Interbank offered rates (IBORs)?

The National Working Groups have recommended the adoption of ARRs for their respective currencies. ARRs are overnight rates that are based on actual transactions in large underlying liquid markets.  

Currency	Alternative Reference Rates (ARRs)	National Working Group
SGD	Singapore Overnight Rate Average (SORA)	Steering Committee for SOR & SIBOR Transition to SORA (SC-STS)
USD	Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR)	Alternative Reference Rates Committee
GBP	Sterling Overnight Index Average (SONIA)	Working Group on Sterling Risk-free Reference Rates
JPY	Tokyo Overnight Average Rate (TONA)	Cross-Industry Committee on Japanese Yen Interest Rate Benchmarks
EUR	Euro Short-Term Rate (€STR)	Working Group on Euro Risk-free Rates
CHF	Swiss Average Rate Overnight (SARON)	National Working Group on Swiss Franc Reference Rates

Global Transition Roadmap

FSB’s Global Transition Roadmap sets out a timetable of actions to guide market participants with LIBOR exposures towards a smooth and timely LIBOR transition by end-2021. It also provides a summary of the key milestones published by industry working groups for USD, GBP, JPY, EUR and CHF LIBOR.  

FIs are expected to comply with the transition timelines and engage customers to achieve a smooth transition.
Read more about MAS' expectations of FIs.