Singapore: STI opens higher on Friday

SINGAPORE shares opened higher on Friday, with the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) at 3,413.75 in early trade, up 0.54 per cent, or 18.48 points, as investors await the all-important US payroll report due later in the day, for clues on the outlook for monetary policy.

Sentiment also rose as US stocks snapped a two-day losing streak after European Central Bank head Mario Drahi detailed the launch of the central bank's quantitative easing programme that kicks off next week.

Around 56.2 million shares exchanged hands.

Gainers beat losers 93 to 42.