FTSE STI closed 1,808.41, down 10.20 points or 0.56% with a total volume of 1.38b and a total value of S$999M. Total number of advance vs decline was 169 vs 308. Of the 30 component index stocks, 15 closed positive, 12 closed negative and 3 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ +0.300
2. JSH 500US$ +0.300
3. Jardine C&C +0.260
4. OCBC +0.050
5. SPH +0.050
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. KepCorp -0.250
2. UOB -0.180
3. NOL -0.120
4. Cosco -0.110
5. ST Engg -0.110
US markets were down yesterday night by about 1% with concern on the swine flu issue. Asia bourses continued the drop from yesterday over the swine flu. Nikkei closed -2.67%, HSI -1.92% and SSE -0.16%. STI though opened positive in the morning but the gain soon unable to sustain when investors selling off concern of another 2003 SARS problem. STI again dipped below 1,800 level for the second days but managed to recover and close above it. There were also concern that BoA and Citigroup need to raise fresh capital. Offshore/Marine counters were under selling pressure with bank, property and commodity stocks were mixed. SIA defied the swine flu scare and closed positive for the day.
