Market Update: STI extends gains, up 0.3%

The Straits Times Index extended its gains as it closed up 0.3% or 9.53 points to end at 3,214.43 on Tuesday.

The top performer for the day was Singapore Airlines with 3.31% or $5.30 in gains, amidst announcements of flight schedules for the Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble. This was followed by SATS which rose by 1.95% or $4.18, and Sembcorp Industries which went up 1.88% or $2.17.

About 1.90-billion securities worth $1.23b changed hands, with stock advancers outnumbering decliners, 245 to 223.

Other Asian stocks traded mixed as the resurgence of COVID-19 cases and the US Federal Reserve policy meeting kept investors on edge.

Meanwhile, Wall Street benchmark indexes end mostly flat as investors await a batch of earnings from tech heavyweights.

S&P 500 decreased 0.02% or 0.90 points to end at 4,186.72, whilst NASDAQ edged down 0.34% or 48.56 points to end at 14,090.22. On the other hand, the Dow Jones Industrial inched up 0.01% or 3.36 points to close at 33,984.93.

London stocks closed the day in red, as investors monitor the COVID-19 crisis in India and amidst earnings season.

FTSE 100 fell 0.26% or 18.15 points to end at 6,944.97 despite the rise in bank shares, whilst the FTSE 250 slipped 0.64% or 144.26 points to close at 22,433.08.