BANKS and the Jardine stable of companies led Singapore's stock market retreat on Friday, as the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) fell 36.71 points, or 1.06 per cent, to finish at 3,436.37.

Regional markets were a similar sea of red from Japan to Hong Kong, Taiwan, India and Malaysia.

On the local bourse, some two billion shares worth S$1.1 billion were traded. Losers outpaced gainers 264 to 151.