Daily Markets Briefing: STI up 0.04%

Reignited US-China trade tension fears may dampen local sentiment.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 1.40 or 0.04% higher at 3,202.04.

The top active stocks were Singtel, which rose 0.33%, DBS, which dipped 0.12%, UOB, which slipped 0.16%, YZJ Shipbuilding, which climbed 1.4%, and ThaiBev with a 2.04% fall.

The FTSE Mid Cap rose 0.08% whilst the FTSE Small Cap grew 0.17%.

According to OCBC Investment Research (OIR), US stocks closed mostly higher Friday with later afternoon buys offsetting pressure from lingering US-China trade tension fears.

Seven out of eleven S&P 500 industries ended higher, led by Consumer Stapes (0.54%) and Utilities (0.49%). Energy (-0.72%) and Financials (-0.55%) led the declines.

"We expect the local sentiment to remain cautious today as US-China trade war fears reignite," OIR said.