Singapore share prices closed 0.31 percent higher on Wednesday as investors bet the US Federal Reserve will lower interest rates at a key meeting next week, dealers said. They said gains were capped as the keey index approached the 3,550 resistance level.
The Straits Times Index gained 11.52 points to 3,506.09 on volume of 2.50 billion shares worth 2.34 billion dollars (1.54 billion US). Gainers led losers 506 to 262 with 826 issues unchanged.
"Basically, we are not seeing an improvement in breadth," UOB Kay Hian analyst K. Ajith said. Oil and gas stocks rose as crude oil prices traded near all-time highs above 78 dollars after the Opec cartel agreed to what traders called a token output hike.
Singapore Petroleum was 15 cents higher at 6.35 Singapore dollars and Labroy Marine was five cents higher at 2.29. Keppel Corp gained 10 cents to 13.30. Property heavyweights rose on signs of continued strength in local residential property demand.
CapitaLand added 15 cents to 7.70, City Developments gained 20 cents to 15.00, and Keppel Land rose five cents to 7.85. Blue chip Fraser and Neave was 15 cents higher at 5.35. Banks closed higher after a day of seesaw trading. DBS Group Holdings was up 10 cents at 20.00, United Overseas Banking Corp gained 10 cents to 21.60 dollars, and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp was five cents higher at 8.80.