Singapore shares slip on Monday after MAS unveils stock market measures; STI down 0.1%

SINGAPORE stocks closed marginally lower at the end of the first trading session since the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) unveiled plans to boost the stock market.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) dipped 0.1 per cent or 2.19 points to 3,927.75.

Across the broader market, gainers beat losers 298 to 286, after 1.4 billion securities worth S$1.7 billion changed hands.

The STI’s top counter was property developer UOL, which rose 5.9 per cent or S$0.30 to S$5.39.

This was after integrated development Parktown Residence sold more than 87 per cent of its units over its launch weekend. It is being developed by a joint venture between UOL, Singapore Land and CapitaLand Development.

Singapore Exchange (SGX) was the next highest gainer on the STI. It climbed 3.9 per cent or S$0.50 to S$13.30, buoyed by positive investor sentiment towards MAS’ initiatives.

Referencing the authority’s S$5 billion Equity Market Development Programme to boost investments in Singapore securities, CGS International analysts Lock Mun Yee and Lim Siew Khee said SGX would be a beneficiary of stronger market volumes in the medium term, “when earnings impact may be more accurately assessed”.

Meanwhile, maritime player Yangzijiang Shipbuilding tumbled 7.1 per cent or S$0.23 to S$2.99, and was the biggest loser on the index.

The three local banks finished in the red. DBS fell 0.6 per cent or S$0.27 to S$46.35, UOB slipped 0.1 per cent or S$0.03 to S$38.35, and OCBC lost 0.2 per cent or S$0.04 to S$17.69.

Key indices in the region ended mostly lower. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 0.6 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi Composite Index declined 0.4 per cent, and the Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index retreated 0.4 per cent. However, Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.3 per cent.