Singapore shares close 0.5% down on Monday

CAUTION reigned on Monday ahead of central bank meetings in Japan and the United States this week.

Singapore stocks finished 0.5 per cent lower in the session, with the Straits Times Index dropping 15.5 points to 2,929.85.

About 923.6 million shares worth S$941.5 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$1.02 per share.

The most actively traded counter was Annica Holdings, which was flat at S$0.001 with 51 million shares changing hands. Other actives included QT Vascular and Spackman Entertainment.

Losers outnumbered gainers 229 to 172, or about four down for every three up.