FTSE STI closed 2,648.98, down 45.52 points or -1.69% with a total volume of 1.60b and a total value of S$1.50b. Total number of advance vs decline was 102 vs 398. Of the 30 component index stocks, 2 closed positive, 26 closed negative and 2 remained unchanged. The 2 gainer component stocks were :-
1. DBS +0.040
2. ST Engg +0.010
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ -1.120
2. Jardine C&C -0.880
3. JSH 500US$ -0.500
4. UOB -0.460
5. SIA -0.240
US markets were mixed yesterday night with Nasdaq and S&P500 closed in the negative while DJ in the positive with mixed news from corporate earnings and economic data. Asia bourses were trading in the negative region given the weakness in US markets with Nikkei closed -1.35%, SSE +0.33% and HSI -1.84%. STI never manage to regain the 2,700 level and the selling pressure increased in the afternoon to drive its to intra-day low closing, losing 45.52 points despite a better than expected result from OCBC. Investors were selling the blue chips after recent moving up. STI has moved back to its previous consolidation range of between 2,620 - 2,680 after failing several attempts to break the 2,720.
