FTSE STI closed 2,790.29, up 21.59 points or +0.78% with a total volume of 1.35b and a total value of S$1.37b. Total number of advance vs decline was 317 vs 145. Of the 30 component index stocks, 24 closed positive, 5 closed negative and 1 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C +0.680
2. SIA +0.660
3. Wilmar +0.140
4. CityDev +0.100
5. F&N +0.090
The 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ -0.580
2. UOB -0.200
3. JSH 500US$ -0.120
4. DBS -0.020
5. Olam -0.010
US markets up average 0.5% yesterday night with jobless claim dropped more than expected. Asia bourses took the cue and traded in the positive region for most of the day. Nikkei closed +2.20%, SSE +0.25% and HSI +1.03%. STI was above to maintain in positive region throughout the day despite selling down of UOB and DBS and managed to close +21.59 points with offshore/marine and SIA leading the buy up. Genting also rebound from recent sell down closing 6 cents up after news of being included into the FTSE Asia Pacific ex-Japan index and also soft launch of the Universal Studio Park on 18th March 2010. With past days of US private sector laying off lesser job and drop in jobless claim, investors are expecting tonight US unemployment rate to fall from previous month and seeing a recovery of the US labour market. As such DJ future and European markets all in positive region and that made investors snapping up those battled down blue chips.
