Singapore shares open little changed on Thursday

SINGAPORE shares opened almost flat on Thursday, with the Straits Times Index down by 1.61 points or 0.06 per cent to 2,892.04 points as at 9.01 am, after US stocks ended little changed on Wednesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 11.98 points or 0.06 per cent to 18,526.14, but the Nasdaq Composite added 8.02 points or 0.15 per cent to a record close.

Trade on Wall Street large caps has been light ahead of the Federal Reserve rate hike decision and the US presidential election in November.

Recent economic data including last Friday's weaker-than-expected jobs report suggest the Federal Reserve could hold off the rate hike for now although expectations are that the tightening may still happen later this year.

Some 46 million shares worth S$69.5 million changed hands, with gainers outnumbering losers 70 to 53.