STI ends harsh week on flat note

THE Singapore bourse hobbled into June with nary an inspiring note ahead of the release of key US jobs data as worries cranked up over a looming trade war - again - after the US said it would impose metal tariffs on allies, who in turn vowed to retaliate.

The STI struggled - and failed - to stay above water, finishing Friday marginally lower by 0.7 points or 0.02 per cent at 3,427.5 with banking stocks leading the decline. It has been a harsh week for the index, which lost 85.72 points or 2.4 per cent.

Asian markets were mixed with benchmark indices in Japan and China in the red while South Korea, Hong Kong and Malaysia ended the week with gains. China's Shanghai Composite slipped 0.6 per cent, hardly moved by the inclusion of its A shares into the MSCI effective Friday.