FTSE STI closed 2,692.55, down 18.54 points or -0.68% with a total volume of 1.49b and a total value of S$1.27b. Total number of advance vs decline was 137 vs 313. Of the 30 component index stocks, 2 closed positive, 23 closed negative and 5 remained unchanged. The 2 gainer component stocks were :-
1. UOB +0.140
2. ST Engg +0.060
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C -0.760
2. DBS -0.220
3. SIA -0.180
4. JSH 500US$ -0.160
5. JMH 400US$ -0.140
US markets fell about 0.5% yesterday night with a poor set of economic data despite better corporate earnings. Investors basically ignored the various better than expected earnings and chose to focus on economic data. Asia bourses were mainly traded in rangebound for the day given the lack of direction from US. Asia bourses closed in the red with Nikkei -0.03%, SSE -0.45% and HSI -0.30%. STI swing between the 2,700 level and in the end gave up and close on day low at 2,692.55 with investors taking off profit, selling down blue chips in reaction to the weak closing from Asia bourses, weak opening of European markets and a negative DJ future.
