STI up 7.31 points at opening, extending this week's gains

SINGAPORE share prices opened higher on Thursday with the Straits Times Index (STI) up 7.31 points to 3,547.26 as at 9.09am, pushing ahead after the index hit multi-year highs this week. Wall Street finished higher overnight.

Stocks in play in early morning trade included those of banks, and Sembcorp Industries. Sembcorp Industries on Wednesday said it is expanding its renewable energy business in China. It has also completed the sale of all of Sembcorp Bournemouth Water Investment that translated into cash proceeds of £104.5 million (S$214 million).

Some 173.9 million shares worth S$158.9 million changed hands, with gainers outnumbering losers 154 to 45.