Daily Markets Briefing: STI up 1.01%

Expect continued boosts today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 32.29 points or 1.01% higher to 3241.85, taking the year-to-date performance to +12.53%.

The top active stocks today were Singtel, which gained 1.09%, DBS, which gained 2.14%, CapitaLand, which gained 1.10%, OCBC Bank, which gained 1.46% and YZJ Shipbldg SGD, with a 1.06% advance.

The FTSE ST Mid Cap Index gained 0.16%, while the FTSE ST Small Cap Index rose 0.43%.

According to OCBC Investment Research, The Dow notched its 40th record close of the year on Monday with the broader stock market gaining as investors piled into financials and materials shares.

Six out of eleven S&P 500 industries finished higher, led by Financials (1.02%) and Materials (0.57%) whilst Utilities (-0.98%) and Real Estate (-0.51%) led the losses.

"Continued overnight gains on Wall Street could provide a boost to the local bourse this morning," OCBC said.