FTSE STI closed 3,142.62, up 13.12 points or +0.42% with a total volume of 1.78b and a total value of S$2.16b. Total number of advance vs decline was 229 vs 243. Of the 30 component index stocks, 18 closed positive, 9 closed negative and 3 remained unchanged. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ +1.00
2. JSH 500US$ +0.560
3. KepCorp +0.290
4. Jardine C&C +0.160
5. HKLand US$ +0.140
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. CityDev -0.240
2. SGX -0.080
3. UOB -0.080
4. SIA Engg -0.060
5. DBS -0.040
US markets were mixed yesterday night with an unexpected drop in jobless claims and some better than expected corporate earnings while investors still concern about how US Fed planing to inject the stimulus in the coming meeting next month. Asian bourses were mostly down giving the lack of direction from US and ahead of tonight US GDP figure. Nikkei closed -1.75% pulling down due to strong yens, SSE -0.46% and HSI -0.49%. European markets were also flattish in the opening and DJ future was in the red however, STI with a bit of bargain hunting and month end window dressing managed to close positive with +0.42%. In the afternoon, UOB reported a better than expected earning which help lifted the bearish sentiment a bit.
