SINGAPORE stocks fell on Monday (Aug 12) amid a regional rally after intense market volatility last week.
The Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.8 per cent or 26.45 points to 3,235.38. Across the broader market, gainers beat losers 322 to 231 after 1.1 billion securities worth S$1.3 billion changed hands.
On the other hand, Asian stock markets were in the black.
South Korea’s Kospi hiked 1.2 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.1 per cent, Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Composite Index went up 0.7 per cent, and Indonesia’s Jakarta Composite Index gained 0.6 per cent.
SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said that markets have seemingly “caught their breath after the recent wild swings”.
He said that markets are betting on 100 basis points of US interest rate cuts this year, with another 100 basis points lined up for next year.
“That’s a major shift in expectations, which has put the US dollar on notice,” he said.
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Innes added that while Bank of Japan officials have gotten “a bit jittery” after the central bank moved to normalise interest rates, he believes that they will “let the dust die” before making any moves.
“For now, it’s all about them sitting back and watching the Fed rate cut show unfold,” he said.
Banks, whose net interest margins are sensitive to interest rate cuts, ended mixed on Monday.
OCBC shed 2.8 per cent or S$0.40 to S$13.83, while UOB fell 2.4 per cent or S$0.71 to S$29.29, and DBS gained 1.2 per cent or S$0.41 to S$33.98.
Yangzijiang Shipbuilding led losses on the STI, falling 4 per cent or S$0.10 to S$2.38.
DFI Retail Group was at the top of the table, rising 5.7 per cent or US$0.10 to US$1.86.
