FTSE STI closed 2,643.95, up 21.26 points or +0.81% with a total volume of 2.40b and a total value of S$1.46b. Total number of advance vs decline was 334 vs 221. Of the 30 component index stocks, 21 closed positive, 6 closed negative and 3 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. SIA +0.340
2. CityDev +0.220
3. DBS +0.140
4. UOB +0.120
5. KepCorp +0.100
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C -0.140
2. JMH 400US$ -0.120
3. NOL -0.020
4. Starhub -0.010
5. SMRT -0.010
5. Olam -0.010
US markets advanced at least 1% last Friday after a mixed set of unemployment data. Number of job cut was less than expected but unemployment rate rose more than expected to 9.7%. Asia bourses were trading in a range with mostly closed in the positive. Nikkei closed +1.31%, SSE +0.68% and HSI +1.53%. STI swung between negative and positive region but in the end with a positive closing from other Asia bourses coupled with Europe opening in the positive, closed at the day high of 2,643.95 up 0.81% with investors snapping up the blue chips with property stocks leading the advance. Tonight US market will be closed for Labour Day.
