FTSE STI closed 2,648.76, down 32.88 points or -1.23% with a total volume of 2.63b and a total value of S$2.17b. Total number of advance vs decline was 194 vs 377. Of the 30 component index stocks, 5 closed positive, 20 closed negative and 5 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ +0.600
2. JSH 500US$ +0.300
3. SMRT +0.010
4. SIA Engg +0.010
5. HKLand US$ +0.010
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C -0.420
2. UOB -0.360
3. DBS -0.240
4. SIA -0.200
5. SGX -0.140
5. Wilmar -0.140
US markets up at least 1.5% with S&P500 closed above the 1,000 level after a better than expected manufacturing data and UK bank Barclays posted a set of positive result. Asia bourses took the clue and mostly opened gap up but profit taking kicked in in the late session that caused bourses to close off day high. Nikkei closed +0.22%, SSE +0.25% and HSI -0.05%. STI hit the 2,700 resistance level but failed to overcome and as profit taking coupling with negative opening from European bourses and DJ future caused STI to reverse the gain and closed -1.23% with banks stock leading the drop. Investors were very cautious as indexes moved up quite an amount and in need of a correction or consolidation before further upwards movement is positive.
