FTSE STI closed 1,876.77, up 48.26 points or 2.64% with a total volume of 1.38b and a total value of S$941M. Total number of advance vs decline was 350 vs 137. Of the 30 component index stocks, 23 closed positive, 5 closed negative and 2 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ +0.940
2. Jardine C&C +0.860
3. DBS +0.340
4. SGX +0.300
5. UOB +0.280
The 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. SIA -0.060
2. F&N -0.030
3. ST Engg -0.020
4. SMRT -0.020
5. NobleGrp -0.010
US markets rallied last Thursday when news of Wells Fargo issued a better than expected earnings preannouncement. Asia bourses traded mostly positive for the day. Nikkei was the only one that closed -0.44%. SSE closed +2.84% while HSI is closed for Easter Holiday. STI closed +2.64% with bank, property and offshore/marine counters led the rally. Although market was up, investors still chose to be cautious with Singapore GDP to be announced tomorrow and US banks earning coming within this week.
SPH the first local blue chip rolled out its earning after market closed. 1HFY09 revenue up 2.8% but net profit down 24.3% and declared an interim dividend of 7 cents/share.
