Singapore shares open firmer on Monday

SINGAPORE shares opened 0.5 per cent higher as at 9.04am on Monday, with the Straits Times Index up 13.82 points to 2,969.76 following a mixed session for US markets before the weekend.

About 160 million shares worth S$291 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$1.82 per share.

The most actively traded stock was Ezra Holdings, which rose 0.6 Singapore cent to 12.8 Singapore cents with 21.7 million shares changing hands.

United Overseas Bank gained 1.8 per cent, or 36 Singapore cents, to trade at S$20.11, while DBS Group Holdings added one Singapore cent to S$18.02.

Gainers outnumbered losers 97 to 57, or about five up for every three down.