STI loses steam as sentiment dips

INVESTORS in Asia were weighed down by sentiment that the Chinese government could slow the pace of policy easing following better-than-expected economic performance.

The market is viewing the developments with a hawkish tinge following a week of robust Chinese data, observed Stephen Innes, SPI Asset Management's managing partner and head of trading.

On Tuesday, Singapore's Straits Times Index (STI) closed at 3,353.47, down 4.23 points or 0.13 per cent. Elsewhere in Asia, markets were mixed. Of the lot, China's Shanghai composite Index added to Monday's dip, closing at 3,198.59, down 16.45 points or 0.5 per cent.