FTSE STI closed 2,757.46, up 0.32 points or +0.01% with a total volume of 1.12b and a total value of S$1.21b. Total number of advance vs decline was 269 vs 167. Of the 30 component index stocks, 19 closed positive, 7 closed negative and 4 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C +0.380
2. SIA +0.160
3. F&N +0.100
4. NOL +0.090
5. SGX +0.080
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. CityDev -0.520
2. JMH 400US$ -0.400
3. Capitaland -0.140
4. DBS -0.060
5. KepCorp -0.050
US markets ended marginally in the positive last Friday in reaction to US Fed hike the discount rate by 25 basis points the day before. Asia bourses after selling down last Friday took the cue and trading in the positive region most of the time. Nikkei closed +2.74%, SSE -0.49% ( reopened after 1 week lunar new year break ) and HSI +2.43%. STI traded in the positive region but only managed to close marginally positive with a 0.32 point gain as property stocks were under selling pressure after last Friday after market closed Government announced new measures to cool the property market. Singapore Finance Minister delivered FY10 budget speech in the afternoon and investors would be digesting that tonight. In general the budget allowed more personal relief for the medium and lower income group and Government also provides finance aids to corporation to re-train workers to increase productivity.
