FTSE STI closed 3,127.29, up 11.07 points or +0.36% with a total volume of 1.32b and a total value of S$442M. Total number of advance vs decline was 234 vs 106. Of the 30 component index stocks, 23 closed positive, 2 unchanged and 5 in the red. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. Kep Corp +0.160
2. CityDev +0.100
3. SGX +0.080
4. Jardine C&C +0.050
5. Capitaland +0.040
5. SIA Engg +0.040
5. UOB +0.040
The 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400US$ -0.520
2. HKLand US$ -0.060
3. Semb Corp -0.010
4. DBS -0.010
5. Genting SP -0.050
US markets rose another at least 0.4% yesterday with DJ and S&P500 hitting another record high. Asian bourses taking the cue were positive ahead of Christmas with Nikkei +0.41%, SSE +0.26% and HSI +1.13%. STI continued the up move with another +0.36% in a half-day trading. 23 of the 30 index stocks posted gain.
Christmas rally or year end rally or whatever one wished to label it, global markets after putting aside US Fed's uncertainty of tapering were now focus on the growth theme as suggested by the recent global economic data. That sentiment could spread till probably 1Q2014.
STI though only traded half-day but managed to edge out a 0.36% gain as traders coming in to buy ahead of year end rally and not to mention bargain hunters coming back. STI index might have moved up but majority of the stocks still in consolidation stage which is good as investors still have the opportunity to buy before everything start to take off.
