Singapore shares fall 0.7% as traders ease into weekend

SINGAPORE stocks retreated on Friday after a four-day advance, falling the most among regional markets, as traders took profit ahead of the weekend and companies released weaker earnings.

The Straits Times Index (STI) went down as much as 0.90 per cent before clawing back ground to finish at 3,264.30, down 0.65 per cent or 21.42 points. Decliners edged out advancers 218 to 169.

The bourse saw turnover of 1.87 billion securities, with value of S$1.42 billion, about 45 per cent more than the daily average value for October.