Singapore shares closed 0.14 percent lower on Thursday in holiday-shortened trading in the run-up to Christmas. The blue chip Straits Times Index fell 3.86 points to 2,837.70 on volume of 519 million shares worth 389 million Singapore dollars (276 million US).
Losers numbered 122 while there were 209 gainers. 1,014 issues remained unchanged. Markets in Singapore were quiet, dealers said, ahead of their closure Friday for Christmas Day. They will reopen Monday. "I'm not doing much trading. In terms of market activity, I expect next week to be just as bad as this week," said a trader at a local brokerage. Banking shares were mixed, with DBS rising eight cents to 15.06 while United Overseas Bank eased two cents to 19.42.
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp remained unchanged at 8.92. CapitaLand was up a cent to 4.17 and Keppel Land gained two cents to 3.47 while City Developments remained unchanged at 11.44. Singapore Airlines advanced six cents to 14.38 while Singapore Telecommunications remained unchanged at 3.05. Motor vehicle firm Jardine Cycle and Carriage slipped 36 cents to 25.90 and oil rig maker Keppel Corp closed down four cents at 8.18.