FTSE STI closed 1,703.29, up 20.95 points or 1.25% with a total volume of 802M and a total value of S$942M. Total number of advance vs decline was 159 vs 181. Of the 30 component index stocks, 20 closed positive, 8 closed negative and 2 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ +0.680
2. JSH 500US$ +0.280
3. Capitaland +0.270
4. CityDev +0.140
5. F&N +0.120
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. Wilmar -0.090
1. CapitaMall -0.090
3. ST Engg -0.030
3. SPH -0.030
5. SembCorp -0.020
US markets closed flat yesterday night with investors waiting for the outcome of the US Senator vote on Obama's stimulus bill which is supposed to vote on tonight. A test vote conducted yesterday showed high chance of passing the bill. Asia bourses also relatively flattish for the day. Nikkei opened positive but closed -0.29%. HSI closed +0.81% and SSE closed +1.82%. STI closed +1.25% with the help of SingTel and Capitaland. SingTel reported an above expectation earnings. Capitaland resumed trading after yesterday halt due to announcement of result and rights issue. Share price surged with high volume to close at day high of $2.63. The surge in price could be closing of short position due to corporate action on CFD and scrip borrowing. CapitaMall Trust which also announced rights issue yesterday however fell. Bank stocks closed firm while waiting for what US going to propose on the "bad bank" concept to buy back all the bad debts from banks.
