Singapore shares extend gains on Friday, up 2.3% on the week

SINGAPORE equities ended the week on a high, buoyed by better-than-expected local factory output for September as well as talks that China is seeking to have punitive tariffs scrapped in exchange for buying more US agricultural products.

But caution over a breakthrough in US-China trade talks remained as ING Asia economist Prakash Sakpal felt that Asian markets were still looking "for some sense of direction given mixed comments from US Vice-President (Mike) Pence".

In a speech on Thursday, Mr Pence criticised China and declared support for the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.