THE further easing of pandemic-related restrictions in Singapore did little to quell local traders’ worries about inflation levels and the slew of upcoming corporate financial results announcements. 

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) slid 0.9 per cent or 29.04 points to end Thursday’s (Feb 9) trading session at 3,359.48. On the wider bourse, daily turnover came in at 1.3 billion securities worth a total of S$976.9 million. Losers inched past gainers 276 to 274. 

Stock markets around the region mostly ended the trading session lower. The Nikkei 225 and Kospi each fell about 0.1 per cent, the Bursa was down 0.4 per cent, and the ASX 200 shed 0.5 per cent. The Hang Seng Index bucked the trend, adding 1.6 per cent. 

DFI Retail Group : D01 0% was the STI’s top gainer on Thursday. It added 3.7 per cent or US$0.12 to US$3.34. Earlier in the day, UOB Kay Hian upgraded its call on the counter to “buy” from “hold” on expected better earnings momentum ahead, as well as a potential margin expansion given improving market and economic conditions.

Jardine Matheson Holdings : J36 0% was the index’s biggest loser, falling 2.1 per cent or US$1.10 to US$51.82.  

On the Singapore Exchange, thinly traded special purpose acquisition company (Spac) Pegasus : PGS 0% was a top gainer, adding 6.8 per cent or S$0.30 to S$4.70. Electric vehicle player Nio : NIO 0%, too, rose 1.2 per cent or US$0.13 to US$10.88. 

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The trio of local banks came up among the day’s top decliners. UOB : U11 0% lost 1.4 per cent or S$0.44 to S$30.40, DBS : D05 0% shed 0.8 per cent or S$0.27 to S$35.92, and OCBC : O39 0% fell 0.4 per cent or S$0.05 to S$13.10. 

Sembcorp Marine : S51 0% was the most actively traded counter by volume, with some 139.5 million shares changing hands. Its shares fell 1.5 per cent or S$0.002 to S$0.136. 

Oceanus : 579 0% was the second-most heavily traded counter, with about 64.9 million shares traded. It rose 7.1 per cent or S$0.001 to S$0.015. 

Other actively traded counters included Genting Singapore : G13 0%, Golden Agri-Resources : E5H 0% and Singtel : Z74 0%.