Singapore shares finish weaker on Friday; STI still up 0.9% for week, thanks to banks

A VOLATILE week ended on Friday with the Straits Times Index down 19.49 points at 2,814.6 in line with falls in most other emerging markets and currencies, and with more questions than answers in the minds of investors. For the week, the index gained 26 points or 0.9 per cent, with the bulk of the support coming from gains in the banks.

Top on the list of concerns is whether new US president Donald Trump will actually live up to his anti-trade, "America-first" stance, what it would mean for interest rates and the impact of his as-yet unknown foreign policy towards South-east Asia.

Friday's volume was 1.8 billion units worth S$1.9 billion and excluding warrants there were 123 rises versus 306 falls.