Singapore shares closed 2.98 percent higher on Friday, rebounding with buying in blue chips, dealers said. The Straits Times Index ended up 48.15 points at 1,662.10 after trading 2.28 percent lower shortly after opening. Volume totalled 1.17 billion shares worth 972 million dollars (635 million US).
Gainers led losers 254 to 170 while 896 issues were unchanged. "It's just a technical rebound like we've seen before," said Gabriel Gan, senior vice-president of equity sales at AmFraser Securities. Market fundamentals have not changed, Gan added.
Dealers said some support may have come from the government's announcement of a 1.5-billion US dollar package to help businesses gain access to credit amid a recession in the city-state and a global financial crisis. "This is clearly sending a strong message to the corporate sector that the government is prepared to help," said Nomura strategist Jit Soon Lim.
Singapore Airlines rose 48 cents to 10.60 Singapore dollars, Singapore Telecommunications gained eight cents to 2.45, and Keppel Corp ended 11 cents higher at 4.60. Banks also gained, with DBS up 44 cents to 9.60, UOB up 30 cents to 11.70, and OCBC 10 cents higher at 4.60. Agribusiness giant Wilmar International climbed two cents to 2.39, while diversified beverage-maker Fraser and Neave was up nine cents at 2.90.