Singapore shares jump

Singapore share prices closed 0.37 percent higher at an all-time high on Friday on gains in banking stocks ahead of the weekend, dealers said. Volume traded totalled 1.7 billion shares worth 2.1 billion Singapore dollars (1.3 billion US), there were 200 rising issue, 444 losers and 538 issues were even.
UOB Kay Hian dealing director Chan Tuck Sing did not rule out the possibility of the main index setting another record high as sentiment remained strong. Banking giant DBS led the market's ascendancy, closing 60 cents up at 17.80 dollars after its first quarter earnings rose 39 percent on the year to 518 million dollars, exceeding analysts' projections.
For the other banks, United Overseas bank rose 20 cents to 16.30 and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp added five cents to 6.80. Among other blue chips, Singapore Airlines was 40 cents up at 14.20, Venture Corp soared 80 cents to 13.50, Singapore Telecommunications fell two cents to 2.74 and ST Engineering slipped four cents to 3.12.
In the technology sector, Chartered Semiconductor fell four cents to 1.80, Creative slipped 10 cents to 10.30, UTAC was three cents lower at 1.03 and STATS ChipPac lost five cents to 1.35. For the property sector, CapitaLand eased 10 cents to 4.90, Keppel Land weakened two cents to 4.74 and City Developments was 10 cents lower at 10.10.