ST Index gains for first time this week

THE main distinguishing feature of Thursday's session was a play on food and beverage (F&B) stocks that pushed up Yeo Hiap Seng, Thai Beverage, Jumbo Group and Sino Grandness Food. Otherwise, turnover at 1.2 billion units worth S$731 million was 63 per cent lower than Tuesday's S$2 billion, although the latter was admittedly inflated by window-dressing of key blue chips (or "portfolio rebalancing").

Next week's US Federal Open Market Committee meeting could provide a short-term trading oppo…