Singapore stocks end higher on Monday as Middle East conflict enters third week; STI up 0.6%
[SINGAPORE] Singapore stocks ended higher on Monday (Mar 16), as the conflict in the Middle East entered its third week and investors looked ahead to the US Federal Reserve’s upcoming monetary policy meeting.
The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.6 per cent, or 26.42 points, to close at 4,868.69. The iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index, however, fell 0.5 per cent, or 7.5 points, to 1,436.05.
Within the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index, First Resources was the top gainer, rising 4.1 per cent, or S$0.11, to S$2.79. Sasseur Reit was the biggest decliner, falling 6.6 per cent, or S$0.045, to S$0.635.
Across the broader market, gainers outnumbered losers 312 to 274, after 1.4 billion securities worth S$1.8 billion changed hands.
Key regional indices were mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 1.5 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.1 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.1 per cent and Malaysia’s FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI slipped 0.1 per cent.
Bourse operator Singapore Exchange led the STI gainers, rising 2.9 per cent, or S$0.53, to close at S$18.93.
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The three local banks also finished higher. DBS rose 1.2 per cent, or S$0.67, to S$55.98, OCBC gained 0.6 per cent, or S$0.12, to S$20.75, and UOB added 0.5 per cent, or S$0.19, to S$36.35.
UOL was the worst performer among STI constituents, falling 5.2 per cent, or S$0.54, to S$9.76.
Property developers City Developments Limited (minus 4.8 per cent) and Hongkong Land (minus 4.1 per cent) also declined on Monday, ahead of the US Fed’s interest rate decision on Wednesday.
Analysts broadly expect the Fed to keep rates unchanged within a range of 3.5 to 3.75 per cent.
“Back in January, the Fed made it clear that the bar for easing required convincing evidence that inflation was trending decisively lower,” wrote Stephen Innes, managing partner of SPI Asset Management, in a Monday note.
“The events unfolding in the Gulf now threaten to move the inflation compass in the opposite direction,” he added.
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