FTSE STI closed 3,365.15, down 0.96 points or -0.03% with a total volume of 588M and a total value of S$514M. Total number of advance vs decline was 194 vs 131. Of the 30 component index stocks, 11 closed positive, 8 unchanged and 11 closed in the red. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400USD +0.550
2. JSH 500USD +0.090
3. Capitaland +0.040
4. Jardine C&C +0.040
5. GLP +0.030
5. HongkongLand USD +0.030
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. CityDev -0.080
2. Olam -0.060
3. ST Engg -0.040
4. OCBC -0.040
5. Ascendas Reit -0.040
US markets fell at least 0.3% yesterday and Asian bourses were mostly positive for the last trading of 2014. Nikkei was closed, SSE +2.15% and HSI +0.44%. STI was flat in a half-day trading in thin volume and value with 11 of the 30 index stocks registered positive closing.
The fell in oil price in concern of oversupply and the political issue in Greece drag US markets in the red. For Asia, the final reading of China HSBC flash PMI for December came in 49.6 indicating a contraction but that failed to prevent most of the regional bourses to close positive for the day. The oil price issue should drag on to next month and hoping the earning season will put investors' worries aside and let the oil supply and demand to self-correct itself.
STI swinging between gain and loss eventually closed flat allowing a gain of 6.24% for 2014. In the last day of trading, it was about year of the end window dressing on the blue chips resulting in them closing mixed. What investors should focus on will be the coming earning season next month.
