Market Summary -- 4th Mar 11

FTSE STI closed 3,061.31, up 23.96 points or +0.79% with a total volume of 1.20b and a total value of S$1.41b.  Total number of advance vs decline was 270 vs 181.  Of the 30 component index stocks, 22 closed positive, 5 closed negative and 3 remained unchanged.  The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-

1. Jardine C&C  +1.080

2. JMH 400US$  +0.700

3. JSH 500US$  +0.400

4. UOB  +0.260

5. HKLand US$  +0.260

The 5 loser component stocks were :-

1. CityDev  -0.260

2. SGX  -0.070

3. NobleGrp  -0.050

4. NOL  -0.010

5. Olam  -0.010

US markets closed at least 1.3% yesterday night as jobless claim fell more than expected bringing cheers to investors that the job market in US is recovering.  In addition, possible peace talk in Libya also eased the middle east tension slightly with oil price sliding a bit.  Asian bourses taking the cue were trading in the positive region for the day with Nikkei closed +1.02%, SSE +1.35% and HSI +1.24%.  STI in line with regional bourses traded in positive region but failed to clear 3,080 and closed 3,061.31 ( slightly lower than opening of 3,068.12, not really a good sign technically ), unable to get pass 3,065 successfully.  Investors will be looking at tonight US unemployment data and also further development of the middle east unrest.