System glitch amid weak trading session

A TRADING system breakdown at the Singapore Exchange (SGX) was perhaps the only real talking point in Wednesday's trading session, albeit one that elicited responses from brokers and the investing public that were understandably not flattering.

According to dealers, the system went offline at around 2.15 pm and lasted until 5.15 pm when trading reopened. The market closed for business at 5.45 pm. The exchange in a 3.48 pm statement said that it had halted trading at 2.51 pm local time and was investigating. Its website was also taken offline throughout.

One dealer lamented: "Sentiment and volume have already been weak for many months, the market is in bad shape and now this. This is not the first time but usually the downtime is not as long as this."