Singapore shares open 0.5% down

SINGAPORE shares eased early Monday amid anticipation that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates later in the week, with the Straits Times Index slipping 0.5 per cent or 14.11 points to trade at 2,820.52 as at 9:01am.

Noble Group led the early actives, losing 1.3 per cent or 0.5 Singapore cent to change hands at 38.5 Singapore cents.

IPS Securex gained 6.3 per cent or 2 Singapore cents following announcement of a significant contract.

A total of 35.8 million shares worth S$42.1 million had traded as at 9:01 am. Losers outnumbered gainers 118 to 31, or about four down for every one up.