Singapore: Shares close marginally higher

The Singapore market finished a marginal 0.1 per cent higher on Monday, with the Straits Times Index advancing 2.68 points to 2,882.27 on its first day without the two major Jardine group stocks in nearly two decades.

The blue-chip index had opened about 0.8 per cent down but managed to claw its way back up over the course of the session, aided by counters such as Thai Beverage and Global Logistic Properties.

About 1.19 billion shares worth S$838 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$0.71 per share.

The most actively traded stocks were International Healthway Corp (IHC) and Healthway Medical, which are involved in a takeover. IHC fell S$0.216 to S$0.099 with 274.5 million shares changing hands. Other actives included Debao Property.

Losers outnumbered gainers 220 to 183, or about six down for every five up.