Pennies in action as STI falls below 3,050

PENNY stocks took centrestage as a 60-point slide in the Dow futures on Thursday took the wind out of the sails of the local stock market, knocking back the Straits Times Index (STI) by 23.41 points at 3,044.08.

Traders said it looked like the Trump reflation play may have run its course, and could be replaced by worries over the impact a protectionist America would have on global trade and global growth.

"With blue chips under pressure, punters are looking to play the pennies," said a dealer.