ST Index opens 8.87 points higher

THE Straits Times Index (STI) opened 8.87 points higher, or 0.26 per cent, to 3,469.17 points at 9.01am on Friday. This followed gains in equity markets in the US and Europe overnight, and a rise in Tokyo stocks at market opening.

Some 138.5 million shares in Singapore were traded with a value of S$81.5 million. Gainers outnumbered losers 95 to 51.

Stocks that were most actively traded at the opening included Noble Group, which was down 3.5 per cent or three cents at 83 cents after 12.45 million shares changed hands, despite a rebuttal from the group to allegations raised by US short-seller Muddy Waters.

Singtel was up 0.5 per cent or two cents at S$4.39 at 9.01am after 3.34 million shares were traded. Sino Construction, with 13 million shares having changed hands, was up 6.7 per cent or 0.4 cent at 6.4 cents.