FTSE STI closed 3,002.56, up 15.90 points or +0.53% with a total volume of 1.45b and a total value of S$1.18b. Total number of advance vs decline was 263 vs 186. Of the 30 component index stocks, 21 closed positive, 6 closed negative and 3 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C +0.640
2. JMH 400US$ +0.620
3. JSH 500US$ +0.420
4. SIA +0.080
5. F&N +0.080
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. SIA Engg -0.060
2. HKLand US$ -0.040
3. StarHub -0.020
4. Olam -0.01
5. NobleGrp -0.010
US markets continued to move up yesterday night after data from pending home sales and jobless claim indicated US economy still growing but at a slower pace and that has eased some pressure off from concern of double-dip recession. Asian bourses took the cue and traded in the positive initially but soon closed mixed ahead of tonight US unemployment rate data. Nikkei closed +0.57%, SSE -0.01% and HSI +0.49%. STI managed to swing back from negative to close at day high at 3,002.56; above the 3,000 level with 21 out of the 30 component index stocks closed in the green despite a flattish opening from European markets and DJ future. Investors will be looking carefully at the unemployment rate tonight. A bad number might not be a bad news as that will force US Government to focus on creating more jobs as first priority. Perhaps fresh round of stimulus needed to be injected to create more jobs. Presently, market is like awaiting for something to happen ( when, what and how ) that could bring back the confidence to investors and that could be the catalyst for the market to move up.
