Roundup: Singapore stocks end down 0.44 pct

Singapore shares closed 0.44 percent lower on Friday, as investors waited anxiously for October U.S. job data to gauge whether U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rate next month.

Market in average expects the report to show that U.S. employers added 180,000 jobs in October, more than September's increase of 142,000 jobs. Overnight data showed new U.S. applications for jobless benefits last week recorded their biggest increase in eight months.

Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index dropped 13.18 points to 3,010.47 points. Trading volume was 1.10 billion shares worth 743 million Singapore dollars. Decliners outnumbered advancers 225 to 165, while 542 stocks did not move.

Among top actives, Tiger Airways soared 32.3 percent to 41 Singapore cents. Singapore Airlines offers to buy all shares in the budget carrier Tiger Airways that it does not already own at 41 Singapore cents a share, compared with its previous closing price of 31 Singapore cents. That is a premium of 32 percent offered to other shareholders, which Singapore Airlines likely hopes will persuade them to sell.

The 800 Super Holdings closed flat at 47.5 Singapore cents. It has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture with Zero Spot Laundry Service to undertake the business of providing laundry services to hospitals in Singapore, as currently conducted by Zero Spot, and other industry.

Among top gainers, Jardine Matheson jumped 1 percent to 53.97 U.S. dollars, while UOB became one of the top losers by falling 0.8 percent to 20.46 Singapore dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals to 1.41 Singapore dollars) Endit