Singapore shares build on Monday's rally

THE positive start to the second quarter in equity markets continued to gain steam for investors in Asia.

IG market strategist Pan Jingyi acknowledged that the synchronised manufacturing surprises out of China and the US on Monday drove risk-on sentiment higher.

Growing optimism over US-China trade talks and cheap borrowing costs were also boons to investors as recent worries surrounding slowing global economic growth appear quashed, albeit temporarily.