Roundup: Singapore stocks end down 0.18 pct

Singapore shares closed 0.18 percent lower on Tuesday, as investors turned cautious after oil prices dropped overnight.

Oil prices fell following comments from Iran about raising its production, and worries of slower growth in global economy may dampen oil demand. Brent crude oil prices slid to as low as 48.52 U.S. dollars per barrel overnight.

Given the weak macro environment in the third quarter, sentiment should turn more guarded as the quarterly results season gathers pace.

Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index fell 5.47 points to 3,019.03 points. Trading volume was 2.52 billion shares worth 935 million Singapore dollars. Advancers slightly outnumbered decliners 218 to 211, while 506 stocks did not move.

Keppel REIT dropped 0.5 percent to 99.5 Singapore cents. The real estate investment trust announced its distribution per unit to its holders in the third quarter was 1.70 Singapore cents, compared with 1.85 Singapore cents in the same period of last year. Its net property income also declined 13.3 percent on-year to 33.4 million Singapore dollars.

M1 Limited rose 0.7 percent to 2.92 Singapore dollars. The telecommunications operator reported a 0.8 percent rise in its third-quarter net profit to 44.9 million Singapore dollars from 44.5 million Singapore dollars a year earlier, as costs outpaced the company's revenue growth. Its revenue rose 11 percent on-year to 277.6 million Singapore dollars, but costs also rose 14.2 percent to 223 million Singapore dollars.

Among the top gainers, Wilmar International jumped 8.9 percent to 3.17 Singapore dollars, whereas Jardine Matheson became one of the top losers by falling 0.8 percent to 53 U.S. dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals to 1.39 Singapore dollars) Enditem