STI falls on disappointing export data

CONCERNS over gross domestic product (GDP) growth dragged the Singapore bourse down on Thursday, after the morning's print of non-oil domestic export (NODX) figures for December showed declines for a second straight month.

The Straits Times Index (STI) headed down for most of the day to close at 3,214.44, down 0.45 per cent or 14.67 points. Turnover on the bourse was 1.7 billion securities worth S$961.41 million, and losers outnumbered gainers 206 to 167.

Economists had forecast NODX to rebound 2 per cent in December, but were disappointed with a 8.5 per cent year-on-year decline instead, on the back of broadly weake…