STI, Asia stocks ride on Wall Street highs

UP and up it was for Asian equities as they continued their rally on Tuesday, riding on expectations of higher interest rates and optimism from Wall Street, even though traders took a pause after recent gains.

For the second straight day this week, the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) extended its gains, adding 5.97 points or 0.18 per cent to close at 3,329.03 on Tuesday, after retreating from an intraday high of 3,342.37.

Turnover came in at an uninspiring 1.5 billion units worth S$1.1 billion, similar to the one billion average that the market has recorded this year. Excluding warrants, the advance-decline score was 201 to 228.