FTSE STI closed 2,396.35, up 33.61 points or 1.42% with a total volume of 3.53b and total value of S$1.49b. Total number of advance vs decline was 336 vs 220. Of the 30 component index stocks, 18 closed positive, 11 closed negative and 1 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. UOB +0.460
2. SIA +0.420
3. Jardine C&C +0.300
4. JSH 500US$ +0.200
5. Wilmar +0.190
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ -0.400
2. CityDev -0.120
3. NOL -0.050
4. F&N -0.020
5. ST Engg -0.020
US markets rebound yesterday night with bank and energy stocks posting gains for the market. Asia bourses reacted to that with a positive open. Nikkei closed +1.02%, SSE closed -0.48% and HSI +0.96%. STI closed 1.42% with bank stocks leading the gain. Markets are awaiting for tonight US unemployment rate. Previous reading was 8.9% and with a consensus of 9.2%. If the reading is able to come within consensus US markets might react positively and STI might re-test the 2,424 level next week.
