Singapore share prices closed 0.37 percent higher on Friday as gains in select blue chip stocks cushioned falls in a market searching for fresh leads, dealers said. The Straits Times Index rose 9.41 points to 2,552.05. Volume was 1.24 billion shares worth 1.10 billion Singapore dollars (688 million US).
Volume was 1.24 billion shares worth 1.10 billion dollars (683 million US).
"There are no near-term catalysts in the market, so it's likely to move sideways," said a dealer with a local brokerage.
Supporting the index was banking giant DBS Group which closed up 0.30 to 16.80 dollars and Singapore Airlines which added 0.30 at 14.20.
Property stocks closed mostly lower with City Developments gaining 0.20 at 11.00, CapitaLand falling 0.08 to 4.76 and Keppel Land slipping 0.02 to 4.78.
Among technology stocks, Venture Corp fell 0.40 to 12.10 touching a 52-week low on expectations that revenue for the first quarter will be weak.
Creative Technology fell 0.10 to 10.90 extending its losses after Wednesday's announcement that the digital entertainment player maker expects to post an operating loss for the third quarter to March.
Singapore Telecommunications was steady at 2.65.