Daily Markets Briefing: STI up 0.95%

Expect muted gains today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 29.07 or 0.95% higher at 3,083.60.

The top active stocks were DBS, which advanced 0.17%, Singtel, which grew 0.03%, UOB, which climbed 0.19%, OCBC, which rose 0.10%, and ComfortDelGro, with a 0.02% advance.

The FTSE Mid Cap rose 1.425 whilst the FTSE Small Cap advanced 0.22%.

According to OCBC Investment Research (OIR), US stocks closed mostly higher after comments from President Donald Trump once again sparked hopes that a trade dispute with China could be resolved in the near term. But the Nasdaq bucked the trend to finish lower as a decline in chip maker shares, led by Nvidia Corp., dented sentiment in the technology sector.

Seven out of eleven S&P 500 industries ended higher, led by Real Estate (1.36%) and Utilities (1.31%) whilst Consumer Discretionary (-0.54%) and Communication Services (-0.39%) led the losses. The index was 1.61% down for the week.

"The overall gains on Wall Street Friday could keep local sentiment fairly positive today," OIR said.