Singapore shares remained in the red zone on Friday, with Japan and several European countries looking to take appropriate steps in order to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Straits Times Index (STI), a key benchmark for the Singapore Exchange, ranged between 4,931.98 and 4,975.33 throughout the day. It ended the session at 4,948.87, down 18.74 points or 0.4% compared to Thursday's close.

Cent Accom REIT up over 6%; Suntec Reit up nearly 3%; Singtel, SIA Engineering up around 1%; Keppel down 1%; ST Engineering down 2%; YZJ Maritime down over 4%.

While not specifying what the steps would entail, the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan expressed their "readiness" to make necessary efforts to ensure safe passage through the sea passage.

In economic news, Singapore's unemployment rate steadied at 0.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025 versus the previous quarter, according to data from the Singapore Ministry of Manpower.

On the corporate front, shares of MetaOptics (SGX:9MT) slid nearly 9% at the close as it named Aloysius Chua Hao Peng as executive director and chief executive officer, effective March 1.

Rex International (SGX:5WH) was down over 7% as it named Per Arne Lind as its new chief executive officer, effective March 19.

Meanwhile, BBR's (SGX:KJ5) shares closed nearly 2% lower as its subsidiary, Alika PBSA, signed to acquire a student accommodation property leased out by iMax SG Ventures for SG$32 million.