STI up 2.5% for the week but falls into the red for 2016

THE Straits Times Index ended a volatile week on Friday with a 21.15-point loss at 2,873.33 that cut its gain for the five days to 70 points or 2.5 per cent.

In keeping with the three previous times this year that it managed to poke its nose above its 2016 starting level of 2,882, a rise to an intra-week closing high of 2,896 on Tuesday proved short-lived, Friday's loss taking the index about nine points into the red for the year.

Turnover on Friday amounted to 1.4 billion units worth S$815.6 million, much lower than the already mediocre S$1 billion average of the previous days, but perhaps understandable given that Monday is a public holiday. Excluding warrants there were 152 rises versus 208 falls.