Daily Markets Briefing: STI down 0.18%

Expect markets to remain cautious today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 5.88 points or 0.18% lower to 3342.92 on Thursday, taking the year-to-date performance to +16.04%.

The top active stocks yesterday were OCBC Bank, which declined 0.96%; Genting Sing, which gained 1.27%; Global Logistic, which declined 1.51%; DBS, which declined 0.50%; and Singtel, with a 0.52% fall.

OCBC Investment Research said the Dow industrials logged a seventh consecutive all-time high, but the broader market closed lower following a slump in the energy sector.

Meanwhile, seven out of eleven S&P 500 industries ended lower. The best performer was Industrials (0.46%) and worst performer was Energy (-1.34%).

"The mixed performances on Wall Street overnight could cause local sentiment to remain cautious today," the brokerage firm said.