FTSE STI closed 2,567.72, up 21.74 points or +0.85% with a total volume of 2.22b and a total value of S$1.78b. Total number of advance vs decline was 324 vs 203. Of the 30 component index stocks, 19 closed positive and 11 closed negative. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. SIA +0.280
2. UOB +0.220
3. SGX +0.190
4. OCBC +0.140
5. DBS +0.080
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ -0.400
2. JSH 500US$ -0.100
3. StarHub -0.090
4. KepCorp -0.070
5. HKLand US$ -0.050
5. SPH -0.050
US markets fell at least 2% yesterday night in reaction to Asia markets correction on that day and a lower than expectation from Lowe's earnings despite manufacturing index on the positive side of the economic data. Asia bourses initially opened in the negative region following US markets retreat but soon bargain hunting came in to bring the indices to close in the positive. Nikkei closed +0.16%, SSE +1.40% and HSI +0.84%. STI reversed earlier loss when other regional bourses turned positive coupled with European markets opened positive and DJ future also in the positive with bank stocks leading the reversal. Investors will be eying on US housing data for further clue on the US economy recovery.
