Singapore shares close 0.5% lower on Tuesday

SINGAPORE shares closed lower on Tuesday, with the Straits Times Index down 0.5 per cent or 15.09 points to 2,966.45. About 1.93 billion shares worth S$985 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$0.51 per share.

Losers outnumbered gainers 266 to 132. All but eight of the 30 index stocks closed lower.

The most actively traded stock was Genting Singapore, which fell 1.7 per cent or S$0.015 to close at S$0.86 with 34.6 million shares changing hands.

Other actives included Ezion Holdings and Allied Technologies.

Among STI constituents, Venture Corp slipped 4.4 per cent or S$0.68 to close at S$14.65, a new 52-week low.

It was a mixed day for financials. DBS closed 1 per cent or S$0.23 lower at S$22.80, UOB fell 0.6 per cent or S$0.15 to end the day at S$24, but OCBC finished in positive territory, gaining 0.8 per cent or S$0.08 to S$10.50.