Singapore share prices closed 0.66 percent higher on Tuesday, lifted by Wall Street's overnight gains and weaker oil prices, dealers said. The Straits Times Index climbed 14.91 points to 2,271.99. Volume reached 848 million shares valued at 703 million Singapore dollars (413 million US), up from 706 million shares worth 676 million dollars on Monday.
Gainers outpaced losers 260 to 207 with 1,055 stocks unchanged.
"The Singapore and the US markets are in the midst of their reporting seasons. How much further the markets go up will depend on how good further corporate earnings are," a dealer with a local brokerage said.
He said window-dressing activity by US and European fund managers going into the end of the year may also provide some support.
Among blue chips, Singapore Telecommunications rose five cents to 2.45 and Singapore Airlines added 10 cents to 11.50, while ST Engineering fell two cents to 2.54. Singapore Press Holdings, was unchanged at 4.46.
Banking stocks rose with DBS up 20 cents at 15.80, United Overseas Bank rising 20 cents at 14.20 and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp ending five cents higher at 6.30.
Technology stocks were mostly lower. Chartered Semiconductor was off a cent to 1.09, STATS ChipPAC fell 1.5 cents to 98 cents and UTAC retreated 1.5 cents to 62 cents.
Venture Corp slipped 20 cents to 12.80 amid a wave of negative analyses after the electronics contract manufacturer reported disappointing third quarter results last Friday, dealers said.
Creative Technology advanced 10 cents to 12.70.
Property counters were mixed with City Developments unchanged at 8.70, CapitaLand up two cents to 3.40 and Keppel Land down six cents to 3.92.