Report of singular advance (4)
I believe the answer is:
loan
'advance' is the definition.
(an advance is a loan)
'report of singular' is the wordplay.
'report of' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'singular' becomes 'lone' (I've seen this in another clue).
'lone' is a homophone of 'LOAN'.
(Other definitions for loan that I've seen before include "temporary payment" , "Mortgage" , "Cash advance" , "Money borrowed; lend" , "Act of lending" .)