THE Straits Times Index (STI) eked out a slight gain of 1.24 points or 0.05 per cent to finish Friday at 2,523.55, which still translates to a 2.6 per cent retreat overall this week.

This came on the back of positive data from China showing that the country's industrial output rose 3.9 per cent in April from a year earlier, expanding for the first time this year as it gradually emerges from its coronavirus lockdown.

The best performer among the index constituents was Singapore Airlines (SIA), recovering lost ground after non-stop sell-offs all week following its profit warning issued last week.