SINGAPORE – Singapore stocks ended higher on May 19.
The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) gained 1.5 per cent or 75.59 points to finish at 5,072.34.
City Developments (CDL) led the gainers on Singapore’s blue-chip index, rising 4.8 per cent or 38 cents to end at $8.22. This came after former director Kwek Leng Peck rejoined the board, six years after resigning over disagreements.
The worst performer among STI constituents was Wilmar International, which fell 1.6 per cent or six cents to close at $3.65.
The three local banks ended higher. DBS Bank gained 2 per cent or $1.24 to $62; OCBC Bank rose 1.7 per cent or 39 cents to $23.43, and UOB was up 1.2 per cent or 46 cents at $37.75.
Within the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index, StarHub was the top gainer, rising 3 per cent or three cents to finish at $1.03, while First Resources was the top loser, falling 12.7 per cent or 47 cents to end the session at $3.22.
Across the broader market, gainers edged out losers 325 to 302, after 1.9 billion securities worth $2.4 billion changed hands.
Key regional indexes were mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.5 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 0.4 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi was down 3.3 per cent and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declined 0.03 per cent. THE BUSINESS TIMES
