Singapore stocks close lower amid mixed regional trading; STI down 0.1%

Singapore stocks ended lower on Monday (Nov 17), as markets across the region ended mixed.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) lost 0.1 per cent or 2.48 points to finish at 4,543.59. The iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index lost 0.7 per cent or 10.59 points to 1,450.80.

Across the broader market, gainers trailed losers 247 to 309, with 1.3 billion securities worth S$1.2 billion having changed hands.

Key regional indices were mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index lost 0.7 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index lost 0.1 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi gained 1.9 per cent, and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI gained 0.1 per cent.

Technology solutions provider Venture Corp led the gainers on Singapore’s blue-chip index, rising 3.0 per cent or S$0.43 to end at S$14.99.

The worst performer among STI constituents was Jardine Matheson Holdings, which fell 3.5 per cent or US$2.36 to close at US$65.20.

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The three local banks ended mixed on Monday. DBS ended flattish, rising S$0.01 to S$54.00; UOB was up 0.2 per cent or S$0.08 at S$34.08, and OCBC finished 0.7 per cent or S$0.13 lower at S$18.39.

Asia markets will be looking at the return of United States data following “weeks of blackout”, said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management.

He added that the market will be awaiting Nvidia’s earnings on Wednesday (Nov 19), and noted that the tech company’s earnings print is now being treated like a central bank-level event for global risk beta.

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