Daily Markets Briefing: STI down 0.24%

Expect some reprieve today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 8.01 or 0.24% lower at 3,269.90.

The top active stocks were UOB, which dropped 1.54%, OCBC, which slipped 1.56%, DBS, which edged up 0.81%, Genting Sing, which fell 3.6%, and Singtel with a 0.33% advance.

The FTSE Mid Cap grew 0.57% whilst the FTSE Small Cap rose 0.35%.

According to OCBC Investment Research (OIR), nine out of eleven S&P 500 industries ended higher, led by Information Technology (1.29%) and Communication Services (1.05%) while Consumer Staples (-0.285) and Financials (-0.23%) lost ground. The index advanced 0.62% for the week."We expect today’s tone to be more positive, following the gains on Wall Street Friday on trade optimism," OCBC said.