Singapore shares open 0.5% down on Wednesday

SINGAPORE stocks opened 0.5 per cent lower on Wednesday, with the Straits Times Index losing 13.17 points to 2,767.94 as at 9.01am.

The blue-chip index was dragged down after upbeat economic data for the world's biggest economy spurred concerns about a potential interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve.

About 80.4 million shares worth S$86.8 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$1.08 per share.

The most actively traded counter was LionGold, which was flat at S$0.003 with 25.9 million shares changing hands. Other actives included Golden Agri-Resources and Noble Group.

Losers outnumbered gainers 80 to 36, or about nine down for every four up.