STI rises 0.5% on Friday, bucking regional losses

THE Straits Times Index (STI) pulled out from underwater territory on Friday (Feb 17) to eke out gains, bucking losses across regional bourses, which took their cue from Wall Street’s overnight falls.

The index edged higher by 17.14 points or 0.5 per cent, to cap the week at 3,328.37. It fell just over 32 points or 1 per cent in an eventful week led by domestic happenings. These included Budget 2023, economic data for the fourth quarter of 2022, as well as January trade data. On the wider bourse, some 1.5 billion units worth S$1.1 billion changed hands; losers outnumbered gainers 278 to 260.

Key gauges across the region, in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea and Taiwan logged losses to end a choppy trading week.