Singapore stocks gain more ground on Tuesday as regional indices end mixed

[SINGAPORE] Stocks in Singapore ended higher on Tuesday (Dec 9), amid a mixed showing by regional peers.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.1 per cent or 6.16 points to finish at 4,513.24. Meanwhile, the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index lost 0.6 per cent or 8.08 points to 1,436.58.

Across the broader market, gainers trailed losers 262 to 265, after 1.1 billion securities worth S$1.1 billion changed hands.

Key regional indices were mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index lost 1.3 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index gained 0.1 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.3 per cent and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI gained 0.1 per cent.

DFI Retail led the gainers on Singapore’s blue-chip index, rising 1.5 per cent or US$0.06 to end at US$4.07.

The worst performer among STI constituents was UOL , falling 1.8 per cent or S$0.15 to close at S$8.42.

The three local banks ended mixed on Tuesday. DBS rose 0.3 per cent or S$0.15 to S$54.12 and OCBC was up 0.3 per cent or S$0.06 at S$18.79, while UOB finished 0.5 per cent or S$0.16 lower at S$34.28.

On the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index, the top gainer was Pan United , rising 2 per cent or S$0.02 to S$1.03. The worst performer was Nanofilm , which fell 3.2 per cent or S$0.02 to S$0.60.

The market remains anxious about the US Federal Reserve’s policy decision this Wednesday, with concerns over sticky inflation driving interest rates higher globally, said Jose Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers. Rising yields are driven by expectations of widening fiscal deficits heading into 2026, which bolsters economic growth prospects.

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“However, heavier borrowing costs amid the anticipation of a hawkish cut on Wednesday are blunting the bullish enthusiasm normally associated with an eventful Merger Monday,” said Torres.