FTSE STI closed 2,774.06, up 23.20 points or +0.84% with a total volume of 1.47b and a total value of S$1.37b. Total number of advance vs decline was 333 vs 157. Of the 30 component index stocks, 24 closed positive, 4 closed negative and 2 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ +1.260
2. JSH 500US$ +0.220
3. DBS +0.180
4. Wilmar +0.170
5. SembMar +0.100
The 4 loser component stocks were :-
1. UOB -0.260
2. ST Engg -0.020
3. CapitaMall -0.010
4. SMRT -0.010
US markets closed marginally positive after a better than expected GDP figure. Reported GDP figure was 5.9% whereas market expecting 5.7%. Asia bourses took the cue and traded in the positive region for the days with Nikkei closed +0.46%, SSE +1.18% and HSI +2.18%. STI though at one point dipped into the negative region but the bargain hunting on the blue chips coupling with regional bourses sentiment managed to move up 23.20 points with only 4 of the component index stocks ended slightly down. Offshore/Marine sectors continued the buying up while property stocks recovered slightly after the recent selling due to Government implementing those cooling measures. Bank stocks were mixed with UOB still facing the selling pressure despite reported a better than market expectation result. Investors will be looking at this week US economic data on home sales and employment situation.
