Daily Markets Briefing: STI down 0.22%

Expect some gains today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 7.71 points or 0.22% lower to 3562.46, taking the year-to-date performance to +4.69%. 

The top active stocks were Singtel, which declined 0.85%, DBS, which declined 0.85%, Venture, which gained 3.49%, OCBC Bank, which gained 0.15% and Genting Sing, with a 1.56% advance.

The FTSE ST Mid Cap Index declined 0.16%, whilst the FTSE ST Small Cap Index rose 0.11%.

OCBC Investment Research noted that US stock indexes posted modest gains Monday, and the Dow ended with its eighth gain in a row, extending an uptrend on signs of easing trade tensions between the US and China.

Four out of eleven S&P 500 industries ended higher, led by Health Care (0.65%) and Energy (0.63%). Real Estate (-0.72%) and Utilities (-0.44%) led the declines.

"The gains on Wall Street overnight could provide a lift to the local bourse today," OIR noted.