FTSE STI closed 3,092.68, up 9.55 points or +0.31% with a total volume of 2.37b and a total value of S$1.71b. Total number of advance vs decline was 255 vs 239. Of the 30 component index stocks, 19 closed positive, 10 closed negative and 1 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. UOB +0.280
2. Olam +0.200
3. SIA +0.200
4. CityDev +0.200
5. DBS +0.120
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C -0.480
2. JSH 500US$ -0.460
3. Wilmar -0.080
4. SIA Engg -0.070
5. Genting -0.060
US markets were down on average 0.5% yesterday coupling with poor European PMI data and unexpected rise in jobless claim. Asian markets were mixed for the day with Nikkei closed -0.99% ( hurt by the China - Japan issue over the fishing boat ) and HSI +0.33%. SSE still close for holiday. STI was trading between negative and positive region but managed to close in the positive with investors snapping up the blue chips. Bank stocks led the buy up as their prices have been in depressed mode for quite some time which attract some bargain hunters. Singapore released its August manufacturing data in the afternoon came in at +8.1% against a market expectation of +14.6% with the drag from pharmaceuticals sector.
