Singapore shares closed 0.29 percent higher Friday but early gains were capped by figures showing key non-oil domestic exports fell for the first time since mid-2002, dealers said. The Straits Times Index rose 6.41 points to 2,209.15, off a high of 2,215.18. Volume traded totalled 611 million shares worth 619 million Singapore dollars (371 million US), down from 618 million shares valued at 582 million dollars on Thursday.
Gainers led losers 233 to 186, with 770 stocks unchanged.
Singapore's non-oil domestic exports fell 5.6 percent year-on-year in May on a contraction in both the electronic and non-electronic sectors, according to the government's trade promotion agency, International Enterprise Singapore.
Among blue chips, Singapore Press Holdings lost two cents to 4.30, Singapore Telecommunications also fell two cents to 2.62 and ST Engineering was four cents down at 2.40, while Singapore Airlines was steady at 11.50.
Banking stocks were firmer, with Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp and United Overseas Bank both adding 20 cents to 12 dollars and 14.80 respectively and DBS 10 cents stronger at 14.30.