Singapore share prices closed 0.28 percent higher on Monday boosted by gains in property stocks ahead of Wednesday's closing of bids for Singapore's first casino licence, dealers said.
They also said China-related stocks continued to attract interest, providing support to the key index.
The Straits Times Index finished 6.92 points higher at 2,504.23 on volume of 1.38 billion shares worth 1.02 billion Singapore dollars (633 million US).
Gainers beat losers 312 to 220 with 681 shares unchanged.
"There was strong interest in property stocks as the bidding for the first site on Marina Bay draws to a close," a dealer from a local brokerage house said.
The results of the bidding will be known in June.
"Rotational play in China stocks continued... which indicates strong interest in the market. The index will likely continue its uptrend tomorrow although further gains might be marginal," the dealer said. Among property stocks, CapitaLand was up 0.06 at 4.56 and Keppel Land gained 0.10 to 4.64.
Genting International advanced 0.005 to 0.375.
City Developments rose 0.40 to 10.70, its highest level in a year on hopes it will pursue restructuring initiatives involving the sale of its office buildings and hotel assets, dealers said.
Blue chips closed mixed with Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) off 0.01 to 2.64, Singapore Press Holdings climbing 0.02 at 4.44, and Singapore Airlines falling 0.30 to 14.40. ST Engineering held steady at 3.06.
Banks were mostly flat with DBS and United Overseas Bank at 16.10 and 15.50 respectively. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp rose 0.05 to 6.75.
Technology stocks were also mixed. Chartered Semiconductor was flat at 1.43, Creative Technology lost 0.10 to 11.80 and Venture retreated 0.20 to 12.90. STATS ChipPAC added 0.02 to 1.20.