STI declines 0.2 per cent, bucking Asia rally

SINGAPORE shares declined even as regional indices climbed on Tuesday (Mar 22).

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended Tuesday down 0.2 per cent or 5.34 points at 3,350.17. Across the broader market, 1.56 billion securities worth S$1.35 billion were traded as advancers beat decliners 264 to 180.

Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed up 3.2 per cent, Japan's Nikkei 225 closed up 1.5 per cent, South Korea's Kospi closed up 0.9 per cent and the Jakarta Composite index closed up 0.7 per cent. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index bucked the regional trend to close down 0.1 per cent.