Singapore shares slide after Dow's 900-point overnight dive

AROUND the world, investors were rattled on the back of rising coronavirus case counts and looming threats of lockdowns. The upcoming US presidential election, too, contributed to a panic-induced sell-off in most markets.

Wall Street indices closed sharply lower at the end of Wednesday's session amid renewed shutdowns across European countries such as France and Germany, in response to a continued rise in coronavirus cases. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.4 per cent; the S&P 500 lost 3.5 per cent, and the Nasdaq shed 3.7 per cent.

The benchmark Straits Times Index booked its fourth consecutive day of losses, closing 1.3 per cent or 32.8 points lower at 2,450.68. Decliners outnumbered advancers 280 to 159, after 1.2 billion securities worth S$1.21 billion changed hands.