STI chalks up fifth rise in six sessions

TRADING in blue chips has contributed almost three quarters of daily volume over the past fortnight, and so it was again the case on Monday when the Straits Times Index's (STI) recent revival continued with a 33.61-point rise to 3,032.11.

Of the total turnover of 1.8 billion units worth S$1.4 billion done by the whole market, S$1 billion or 71 per cent came from the 30 STI components, the most active being the resurgent Noble Group. There were also notable volume contributions from Genting Singapore and Singtel.

The index probably owed its fifth rise in six sessions to gains in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The Dow futures contract, however, was marginally weak.