FTSE STI closed 1,766.72, up 0.64 points or 0.036% with a total volume of 850M and a total value of S$1.03b. Total number of advance vs decline was 130 vs 244. Of the 30 component index stocks, 6 closed positive, 21 closed negative and 3 remain unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. Wilmar +0.120
2. SingTel +0.110
2. DBS +0.110
4. Olam +0.030
5. HKLand US$ +0.020
5. SIA Engg +0.020
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C -0.300
2. CityDev -0.230
3. F&N -0.170
4. UOB -0.120
5. SembCorp -0.110
US markets rallied overnight as US Federal Reserve maintained the interest rate at between 0% - 0.25% and vowed to use all measures to save the ailing economy. Apart from that, US House also voted a pass to Obama's stimulus package. Asia bourses welcomed the news with positive trading. Nikkei closed +1.79% and HSI closed +4.58%. STI shares were mixed with majority of the index stocks closed down due to profit taking. DBS announced that its CEO contacted leukemia and will be on medical leave for 3-6 months. However, DBS shares didn't reacted negatively to the news. Though regional bourses closed firmly in the positive region for past few days, investors still maintain cautious with corporate earnings and economic data weighing down the bullish sentiment.
