STI ends flat on Wednesday amid mixed regional trading

[SINGAPORE] Singapore stocks ended flat on Wednesday (Nov 19), amid mixed regional trading.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) edged up 0.01 per cent or 0.55 points to finish at 4,505.22. Meanwhile, the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index lost 0.5 per cent or 7.15 points to close at 1,446.11.

Across the broader market, gainers beat losers 288 to 245, after 1.3 billion securities worth S$1.5 billion changed hands.

Key regional indices were mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.4 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost 0.3 per cent, and South Korea’s Kospi declined 0.6 per cent. Meanwhile, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI gained 0.6 per cent.

The best performer was Yangzijiang Shipbuilding , which gained 2.8 per cent or S$0.09 to close at S$3.35.

The three banks ended mostly in the red. DBS ended flattish, rising 0.04 per cent or S$0.02 to close at S$53.70. UOB fell 0.6 per cent or S$0.19 to S$33.84, while OCBC fell 0.5 per cent or S$0.09 to S$18.16.

The biggest loser was Genting Singapore , falling 2.6 per cent or S$0.02 to S$0.75.

Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, said: “Asia today isn’t trading outright bearish.”

“Japan remains the area where macro and geopolitics are adding complication rather than outright negativity,” he added.

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Innes pointed out that tensions between China and Japan have escalated into a tourism and sentiment shock, but noted that investors are treating it more as a macro headwind to monitor than an “imminent crisis”.