STI up a further 1.65% on stronger data from US and China

THE better-than-expected jobs data from the US and smaller-than-expected export decline in China helped lift most Asian stock markets, including Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index (STI).

The STI added 45.47 points or 1.65 per cent to end at 2,796.97 points, continuing last week's upward momentum.

Singapore's market performance was in line with several regional key indices. The Jakarta Composite Index, at 5,070.56 points, led with gains of 2.48 per cent. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.37 per cent to 23,178.10 points - its highest closing level since Feb 21.