Singapore shares open 0.39% higher on Wednesday

SHARE prices in Singapore opened firmer on Wednesday amid reports of stronger consumer spending in America and as oil prices climbed. The Straits Times Index rose by 0.39 per cent, or 11.08 points, to 2,864.05 as at 9.01am.

A total of 23.8 million shares worth S$32.9 million changed hands. Gainers outnumbered losers 60 to 45.

The upswing here was in tandem with firmer markets seen across Asia.

The MSCI Asia Pacific excluding Japan Index added 0.2 per cent, with material and energy shares leading gains, reported Bloomberg.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index gained 0.8 per cent as at 11.18 am in Sydney, rising for a sixth day. South Korea's Kospi Index fell 0.1 per cent. New Zealand's S&P/NZX 50 Index gained 0.7 per cent, advancing for a seventh day. Contracts on Hong Kong's Hang Seng China Enterprises Index climbed 0.1 per cent.