Singapore stocks close lower, tracking Asia sell-off; STI still ends week higher

[SINGAPORE] Singapore stocks ended lower on Friday (Jun 5), tracking a broader decline across regional markets.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) fell 0.4 per cent, or 17.57 points, to close at 5,049.96.

Despite the decline, it still managed to post a weekly gain in the holiday-shortened trading week, rising 0.2 per cent, or 12.1 points, from the previous Friday’s close. The markets were shut on Monday for a public holiday.

On Friday, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding was the top performer on Singapore’s blue-chip index, climbing 2.3 per cent, or S$0.08, to S$3.54. Wilmar International was the worst performer, falling 1.7 per cent, or S$0.06, to S$3.43.

The three local banks ended mixed. UOB gained 0.6 per cent, or S$0.24, to S$38.55, while DBS fell 0.6 per cent, or S$0.36, to S$63.78 and OCBC slipped 0.3 per cent, or S$0.06, to S$23.94.

Across the broader market, losers outnumbered gainers 359 to 205, after 1.6 billion securities worth S$1.9 billion changed hands.

Within the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index, UltraGreen.ai was the top gainer, rising 2.9 per cent, or US$0.04, to US$1.44. First Resources was the biggest loser, shedding 4.4 per cent, or S$0.12, to S$2.61.

Regional markets were mostly weaker. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI bucked the trend, gaining 0.6 per cent. Elsewhere, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 1.2 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 1.3 per cent and South Korea’s Kospi dropped 5.5 per cent.

Separately, data released on Friday showed that Singapore retail sales rose 5.4 per cent year on year in April, extending the revised 4.6 per cent growth recorded in March.

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Most retail segments posted higher sales, led by petrol service stations, recreational goods and motor vehicles. The April reading also exceeded the median forecast of 4.4 per cent growth in a Bloomberg poll of private-sector economists.

This article has been written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a reporter