Singapore stocks rise marginally ahead of non-farm payroll data in US

SINGAPORE shares rose marginally on Aug 6, as equity markets in Asia were range-bound ahead of the release of non-farm payroll data in the United States on Friday.

The Straits Times Index closed at 0.07 per cent or 2.08 points up at 3,177.18 points for the day, and with slight gains of 0.32 per cent for the week.

DBS ended trading at its 52-week high of S$31 or up 0.65 per cent, one day after it restored its dividend payout amid a 37 per cent higher quarterly net profit. The bank has a market capitalisation of S$79.6 billion as at Aug 6.

Mainboard-listed Excelpoint Technology jumped 29.61 per cent to S$1.16, a day after it released its net earnings that more than quadrupled to US$12 million for the half-year ended June. It also posted a 45.3 per cent rise in top line for the half year to US$740.9 million, due to higher sales from the Singapore and Hong Kong business units.

Dimethylformamide producer Jiutian Chemical closed on the most traded tally, after 109.7 million shares changed hands. The shares closed at S$0.092, after an 8.24 per cent jump.

Gainers beat losers 238 to 219 on the broader market, amid a turnover of 1.41 billion securities worth S$1.21 billion.

Elsewhere in the region, markets put up mixed performances. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed 0.36 per cent higher at 7,538.40 points, and Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.33 per cent to 27,820.04 points.

The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.24 per cent to 3,458.23 points, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 0.10 per cent at 26,179.40 points.

South Korea's Kospi dipped 0.18 per cent to 3,270.36 points. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index shed 0.40 per cent to 1,489.80 points.