Singapore bourse dips on weak retail sales data

TUESDAY'S trading yielded gains for most Asian markets, but the Singapore bourse fared a little worse, ending the day with the Straits Times Index (STI) down 0.16 per cent or 5.12 points to 3,201.15.

The key index held onto early gains before the midday break, then took a bumpy ride downwards in the afternoon session after the latest release of local retail sales data showed a 6 per cent year-on-year decline in December and a 0.7 per cent slump for 2018.

Sales were dragged down by motor vehicles, and would have registered a 1.1 per cent annual increase with the segment omitted.