SINGAPORE stocks struggled to advance on Tuesday (Jul 18) following a mixed performance in global equity markets.

The Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.1 per cent or 2.95 points to 3,251.48 as at 9.01 am. Gainers outnumbered losers 54 to 43, after 68.9 million securities worth S$57.4 million changed hands.

The most active counter by volume was Seatrium : S51 0%, which rose 0.7 per cent or S$0.001 to S$0.142, with 35.4 million shares traded.

Other heavily traded securities included Thai Beverage : Y92 0%, which added 1.7 per cent or S$0.01 to S$0.585, with 3.9 million shares changing hands. Singtel : Z74 0% lost 1.2 per cent or S$0.03 to S$2.55, with 2.5 million shares traded.

Banking stocks were mixed in early trade. DBS : D05 0% rose 0.2 per cent or S$0.07 to S$32.54, UOB : U11 0% declined 0.4 per cent or S$0.10 to S$27.61, while OCBC : O39 0% remained flat at S$12.45.

In the US, major indices started the week choppy before closing higher, extending a rally from the week before as investors await major earnings reports and economic releases.

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.2 per cent higher at 34,585.35, the S&P 500 gained 0.4 per cent to close at 4,522.79, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.9 per cent to 14,244.95.

European shares fell on Monday. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed 0.6 per cent lower, dragged by declines from luxury giants.