Singapore stocks closed higher on Aug 21, with the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) gaining 17.05 points, or 0.3%, to 5,688.96, as buying in the local banks helped lift the market.
All three banking heavyweights advanced. DBS rose 0.2% to S$76, OCBC gained 0.7% to S$30.98, while UOB climbed 0.8% to S$40.53.
City Developments led STI gainers, advancing 1.7% to S$8.25, while ST Engineering was the index’s biggest decliner, falling 1.6% to S$10.68.
The broader market was positive, with 322 gainers outpacing 242 losers. About 1.1 billion securities worth S$2 billion changed hands during the session.
