Across the broader market, losers beat gainers 286 to 236, as 883.5 million securities worth S$1.1 billion change hands
[SINGAPORE] Singapore shares ended lower on Thursday (Dec 18), tracking declines on Wall Street.
The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) lost 0.1 per cent or 4.87 points to finish at 4,570.61. Meanwhile, the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index gained 0.3 per cent or 4.56 points to close at 1,436.36.
Across the broader market, losers outnumbered gainers 286 to 236, after 883.5 million securities worth S$1.1 billion changed hands.
Key regional indices were mixed. The Hang Seng Index added 0.1 per cent and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI rose 0.3 per cent, while the Nikkei 225 lost 1 per cent and the Kospi Composite fell 1.5 per cent.
Market sentiment was weak after Tuesday’s US jobs data failed to spark optimism for more Federal Reserve cuts next year, said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote.
“Inflation remains sticky and above the Fed’s target, making a 1 per cent Fed rate unrealistic without risking a spike in prices for the main street,” she said.
The artificial intelligence sell-off also intensified on developments that aggravated investors’ concerns about circularity and leveraged-debt risks, she noted.
“How far the sell-off will go remains unclear, but high valuations could justify a 10 to 20 per cent drop from peak to trough.”
On the STI, DFI Retail Group was the top gainer, climbing 2 per cent or US$0.08 to US$4.06.
The worst performer was Hongkong Land , which fell 1.7 per cent or US$0.12 to US$6.91.
The three local banks ended mixed. OCBC rose 0.3 per cent or S$0.06 to S$19.50, and UOB was up 0.2 per cent or S$0.07 at S$34.73, while DBS finished 0.2 per cent or S$0.12 lower at S$55.12.
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