FTSE STI closed 3,496.24, down 12.37 points or -0.35% with a total volume of 1.79b and a total value of S$1.18b. Total number of advance vs decline was 200 vs 287. Of the 30 component index stocks, 12 closed positive, 3 unchanged and 15 in the red. The top 5 gainer component stocks were :-
1. SGX +0.220
2. DBS +0.100
3. JMH USD +0.070
4. SIA +0.060
5. AscendasReit +0.050
The top 5 loser component stocks were :-
1. Jardine C&C -0.450
2. Kep Corp -0.390
3. Sembcorp -0.130
4. CityDev -0.090
5. OCBC -0.080
US markets closed mixed yesterday and Asian bourses mostly positive for the day with Nikkei +1.13%, SSE +2.47% and HSI +0.30%. STI underperformed regional markets closing -0.35% in thin daily volume and value with 12 of the 30 index stocks posted gain.
US corporate earning continue to get mixed providing a mixed sentiment to the US markets. Asian markets however were on a different frequently mostly with both Nikkei and SSE hitting another new multi-year high as investors pouring more money into those markets anticipating more monetary easing from the respective Central Bank. Investors will continue to lookout for corporate earning and at the same time the Greece debt issue.
STI fell below the 3,500 level searching for a support, tentatively at 3,460. Profit taking coupling with XD starting on the blue chips and index stocks weighed down the index. Daily volume was thin as short-term traders and punters starting to stay away from punting of penny and small cap stocks too. The bright spot on the other hand was corporate earning so far within expectation and stocks which schedule to release their earning next still maintaining the positive momentum.
