STI slips 0.5% as investors stay on sidelines

CAUTIOUS investors with an eye on the progress of US-China trade talks stayed on the sidelines and let Singapore shares head into the week downcast on Monday.

The Straits Times Index (STI) opened slightly lower by 1.23 points, but slipped steadily over the session to close at 3,143.24, lower by 0.52 per cent or 16.44 points. Losers outnumbered gainers 230 to 135, or about two stocks down for every one up.

It was a quiet start to the week, with only 744.74 million shares worth S$736.12 million changing hands.