FTSE STI closed 2,769.19, down 24.87 points or -0.89% with a total volume of 1.37b and a total value of S$1.23b. Total number of advance vs decline was 125 vs 303. Of the 30 component index stocks, 2 closed positive, 26 closed negative and 2 remained unchanged. The 2 gainer component stocks were :-
1. SingTel +0.040
2. JSH 500US$ +0.020
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C -0.300
2. SIA -0.200
3. JMH 400US$ -0.200
4. DBS -0.140
5. UOB -0.140
US markets advanced on average 0.5% yesterday night after a better than expected housing start data. However Asia bourses were under profit taking session with most of the bourses closed in the red. Nikkei closed +0.28% and HSI -0.55%. STI unable to move above 2,800 level with all the blue chips under profit taking; only 2 out of 30 component index stocks managed to close in the positive. Weak European bourses opening coupling with a negative DJ future piled up the selling pressure near closing time as investors preferred to take profit and stay cautious.
