Singapore shares open up on Thursday

SINGAPORE share prices opened higher on Thursday, with the Straits Times Index (STI) up 13.77 points to 3,342.80 as at 9.02 am.

The Dow cracked the 23,000 level for the first time, while British mid-caps jumped to a record closing level. Over in China, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday opened the key 19th Party Congress, and reiterated the need to continue the reform of China's indebted and inefficient state-owned enterprises. The Singapore stock market was closed on Wednesday.

Top gainers in early morning trade included Jardine C&C and Great Eastern.

Some 54.8 million shares worth S$102.9 million changed hands, with gainers outnumbering losers 112 to 46.