Singapore shares close 0.5 per cent higher on Thursday

SINGAPORE stocks closed 0.5 per cent higher on Thursday, with the Straits Times Index (STI) gaining 13.97 points to 2,877.62 at the end of a shortened trading session.

The blue-chip index got the lift after a continued rise in crude oil prices, though analysts warned that this uptrend could be short-lived.

About 547.4 million shares worth S$377.7 million in total changed hands by 12.30pm, which worked out to an average unit price of S$0.69 per share.

The most actively traded counter was Catalist-listed Vashion, which was flat at S$0.001 with 23.9 million shares changing hands. Other actives included China New Town and Ezra.

Gainers outnumbered losers 187 to 133, or about seven up for every five down.