Off the wire
• Roundup: British PM announces fund for Caribbean, shuns slavery reparation on Jamaica visit  • Former official arrested for graft  • Philippines, U.S. joint exercises kick off  • Weather forecast for major Chinese cities, regions -- Oct. 1  • Weather forecast for world cities -- Oct. 1  • Foreign exchange rates in Singapore  • First natural science museum completed in Tibet  • Singapore stocks close 0.39 pct higher  • Venezuela urges UN to help stop foreign intervention in sovereign nations  • Mexico's energy reform improves after 2nd tendering phase  
You are here: 　 Home

Roundup: Singapore stocks end up 0.39 pct

Xinhua, October 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

Singapore shares closed 0.39 percent higher on Thursday, as investors took comfort in firmer Chinese official manufacturing data.

China's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index for September rose to 49.8 from 49.7 in August. Market in average expected the index to remain flat. The Caixin China manufacturing purchasing managers' index was at a six-and-a-half year low of 47. 2 in September, compared with a preliminary figure of 47.0 and 47. 3 in August. Readings below 50 still indicate a contraction in manufacturing activity.

U.S. stocks rose following an upbeat U.S. private-sector employment report. U.S. private employers added 200,000 jobs in September, according to the ADP National Employment Report, beating market forecasts and hinting jobs growth may be sufficient for the U.S. Federal Reserve to raise interest rates later this year.

But DBS Group Research said despite last night's rise, the U.S. stocks continues to track a "lower-low" and "lower-high" over the past 10 days. The choppy sideway's trend since Aug. 24 could break to the downside.

As for Singapore shares, DBS said the Straits Times Index should find support at 2,750 points with an undershoot possibility to 2,660 points if global equity market's volatility continues. Any further weakness into the range from 2,660 points to 2,760 points provides accumulation opportunity.

Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index rose 10.96 points to 2,801.85 points. Trading volume was 1.19 billion shares worth 815 million Singapore dollars. Advancers outnumbered decliners 222 to 152, while 560 stocks did not move.

There was no trading for Roxy-Pacific Holdings Limited on Thursday. It announced that it has agreed to acquire a freehold residential site in eastern part of Singapore for 21.5 million Singapore dollars. The land has an existing plot ratio of 1.4 and is slated for residential development. No immediate development plans were announced by Roxy-Pacific for the site.

Among top gainers, Singapore Exchange Limited rose 1.7 percent to 7.15 Singapore dollars, while Jardine Matheson became one of the top losers by falling 0.5 percent to 47.01 U.S. dollars. (1 U. S. dollar equals to 1.43 Singapore dollars) Endi