Singapore shares open 9.71 points higher on Friday

SINGAPORE shares opened firmer in early trading on Friday, a day after they were awash in red.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) was 9.71 points, or 0.33 per cent, higher at 2,940.48 as at 9.01am on Friday.

Some 67.1 million shares worth S$84.3 million changed hands. Gainers beat losers 72 to 47.

Local bank DBS and agricultural group Wilmar International were among the biggest gainers. DBS saw its share price go up by 5 Singapore cents to S$17.98, while Wilmar rose one Singapore cent to S$3.62.

On Wednesday, the United States Federal Reserve's rate hike decision, and hints at more-than-expected rate increases in 2017, shook markets around the world. The STI closed on Thursday 0.79 per cent lower at 2,930.77.