Singapore: Shares close lower amid mixed performance in region

Singapore share prices closed lower on Friday with the Straits Times Index down 10.83 points, or 0.32 per cent, to 3,362.77 points.

The market had digested data that US retail sales were weaker than expected, easing fears of a rate hike that might come earlier than expected, after strong US jobs data a week ago. Around the region, stocks in Japan, China, Hong Kong and South Korea rose, while stocks in Australia, India, Malaysia and Indonesia fell.

Stocks that dragged down the local market included index heavyweight Jardine Matheson Holdings, which fell 1.9 per cent to US$62.12.

Environment stocks SIIC Environment and United Envirotech also saw heavy trading.

Some 1.1 billion shares with a value of S$910.3 million changed hands. Gainers outnumbered losers 215 to 192.