The Singapore stock market has moved higher in two straight sessions, gathering more than 15 points or 0.5 percent along the way. The Straits Times Index now rests just beneath the 3,270-point plateau although it may be stuck in neutral on Friday.
The global forecast for the Asian markets is soft on continuing concerns over the health of the world economy. The European and U.S. markets were sharply lower and the Asian markets are expected to follow that lead.
The STI finished modestly higher on Thursday following gains from the financials and industrials, while the properties and REITS were mixed.
For the day, the index gained 13.34 points or 0.41 percent to finish at 3,269.53 after trading between 3,256.19 and 3,278.88.
Among the actives, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust rose 0.50 percent, while CapitaLand Investment advanced 0.82 percent, City Developments jumped 1.33 percent, DBS Group perked 0.18 percent, Genting Singapore gathered 0.53 percent, Hongkong Land tumbled 1.69 percent, Keppel Corp surged 1.51 percent, Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust sank 0.61 percent, Mapletree Industrial Trust lost 0.45 percent, Mapletree Logistics Trust added 0.64 percent, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation gained 0.57 percent, SembCorp Industries climbed 0.89 percent, Singapore Technologies Engineering rallied 1.19 percent, SingTel strengthened 1.17 percent, Thai Beverage improved 0.74 percent, United Overseas Bank collected 0.52 percent, Wilmar International soared 1.46 percent, Yangzijiang Financial spiked 1.45 percent, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding increased 0.72 percent and Ascendas REIT, SATS, Keppel DC REIT, Comfort DelGro and Emperador were unchanged.
The lead from Wall Street is broadly negative as the major averages opened deep in the red and the losses accelerated as the day progressed.
