Singapore stocks close up 1.21% on Thursday

FESTIVE cheer extended to the Singapore market on Thursday, in half-day trade ahead of the Chinese New Year break.

The benchmark Straits Times Index closed up by 41.12 points, or 1.21 per cent, at 3,443.98 - erasing the previous day's 12.21-point drop.

Gainers outnumbered losers 272 to 123, or just over two up for every one down.

About 1.1 billion shares worth S$1.04 billion changed hands.

This was in spite of the price dip in some index counters.

Thai Beverage was a hot stock, topping the actives list with 102.48 million shares traded - but for all the wrong reasons.

It fell by S$0.06, or 6.59 per cent, to S$0.85.

The Singapore market will reopen for trading on Monday.