SINGAPORE equities began trading in positive territory on Thursday (Jun 13), as global sentiment remained upbeat after data showed US consumer prices were unexpectedly unchanged in May.
As at 9.01 am, the Straits Times Index (STI) opened 0.6 per cent or 18.89 points higher at 3,326.33. Across the broader market, gainers outnumbered losers 96 to 22 after 64 million securities worth S$102.3 million changed hands.
The most actively traded counter by volume was Thai Beverage : Y92 0% with 15.7 million shares traded. The counter opened 3.1 per cent or S$0.015 lower at S$0.475.
Golden Agri-Resources : E5H 0% shares were briskly transacted as well, declining 1.9 per cent or S$0.005 to S$0.265. Capitaland Integrated Commercial Trust : C38U 0% units were also traded quickly, edging up 1.6 per cent or S$0.03 to S$1.96.
Banking stocks traded higher at the opening bell. DBS : D05 0% climbed 0.5 per cent or S$0.16 to S$35.81. OCBC : O39 0%rose 1 per cent or S$0.14 to S$14.37, while UOB : U11 0% increased 0.7 per cent or S$0.20 to S$30.85.
Wall Street stock performance was mixed following improved inflation data as the Federal Reserve kept interest rates level. The broad-based S&P 500 rose 0.9 per cent to 5,421.03, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 1.5 per cent to 17,608.44, the third straight closing records for both indices.
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged 0.1 per cent lower to 38,712.21.
In Europe, shares advanced on Wednesday with rate-sensitive sectors jumping after a cool US inflation reading propped up hopes that the Federal Reserve could kick-off its policy easing cycle soon.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed 1.1 per cent higher to 522.89, after falling for the last three sessions, its biggest single-day percentage jump since January.
