FTSE STI closed 3,366.11, down 1.58 points or -0.05% with a total volume of 1.02b and a total value of S$704M. Total number of advance vs decline was 194 vs 197. Of the 30 component index stocks, 16 closed positive, 5 unchanged and 9 in the red. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. CityDev +0.150
2. Jardine C&C +0.120
3. JMH 400USD +0.100
4. ComfortDelGro +0.030
5. DBS +0.030
5. ST Engg +0.030
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. JSH 500USD -0.180
2. UOB -0.050
3. GLP -0.040
4. Ascendas Reit -0.030
5. SingTel -0.020
5. SembMar -0.020
US markets closed mixed and practically flat yesterday. Asian bourses were all in the red with Nikkei -1.57%, SSE -0.02% and HSI -1.14%. STI swinging between gain and loss eventually closed flat in very thin volume and value with 16 of the 30 index stocks registered a gain.
US markets were mixed and flat but S&P500 managed to edge out another record high closing. Falling oil price and Greece uncertainties weighed on investors. The usual concern of oversupply of oil and Greece failing to elect a President which requires a snap election next weighed on investors. Those concerns spread to Asian bourses with Nikkei ending the year 2014 down 1.57% but registered a 7.1% gain for the year. For rest of the markets were about profit taking and wait to see how those events play out.
Though STI was in the red but fared better than regional bourses as the thin volume helped to cushion the drop. Oil price fell but oil-related stocks were not having as big a reaction compared to past weeks. Short-term traders and punters might be in a hurry to take profit for the year, bargain hunters were willing to wait. Market should be relatively muted for rest of the week due to the festive season and normal activity should resume next Monday. For the past 2 January penny stocks were having crazy bull run and will that happen again next January ? That should be something to watch out for especially for the punters and short-term traders.
