FTSE STI closed 3,370.59, up 5.44 points or +0.16% with a total volume of 1.07b and a total value of S$557M. Total number of advance vs decline was 279 vs 154. Of the 30 component index stocks, 15 closed positive, 5 unchanged and 10 in the red. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. JMH 400USD +0.170
2. HongkongLand USD +0.040
3. OCBC +0.040
4. CityDev +0.030
5. GLP +0.030
5. SembMar +0.030
5. Wilmar +0.030
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C -0.780
2. DBS -0.100
3. SIA Engg -0.080
4. SGX -0.070
5. SIA -0.050
US markets fell at least 0.80% on the last day of trading for 2014. Asian bourses were mostly positive for the 1st trading day of 2015. Nikkei and SSE were closed for holiday and HSI +1.07%. STI was flat with thin volume and value and 15 of the 30 index stocks posted gain.
US markets fell only near the last hour of trading in thin volume session as traders closing off position for 2014. Asian markets started the first trading day of 2015 in a slightly positive sentiment where most of the markets able to close positive. The first economic data for 2015 came from China yesterday for its official December PMI coming in at 50.1 slowed from the previous month of 50.4. Oil price also rebounded from Wednesday drop. Most of the market action should be resume from next Monday onwards in which key data such as US unemployment rate will be in focus.
Singapore released its 4Q GDP coming in at +1.5% below expectation of +2.0% and that the first estimate of 2014 FY GDP at +2.8%. That piece of news didn't help much to the already quiet trading resulting in a flat closing for STI in the first day of trading in 2015. Market activity is expected to pick up from next Monday onwards when most return from their holiday. While the immediate focus might be on economic data and oil price, the one to look out for should be the earning season starting middle of this month.
