Market Summary 25 August 2012

Singapore shares closed lower on Friday, tracking declines in regional peers, as doubts set in about the likelihood that global central banks are preparing to announce steps to stimulate economic growth.

The 30-shares Straits Times Index closed 0.2%, or 5.88 points, lower at 3,050.49. Intraday, the benchmark touched a low of 3,036.68. It ended the week with a 0.4% loss. Market volume was lower, with 1.22 billion shares trading hands compared with 1.76 billion on Thursday. Losers outnumbered gainers 213 to 168.

Asian stocks took their cue from the U.S., where the Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its biggest loss in more than a month as investors grew less sure that a new round of quantitative easing is on the way. Lim & Tan Securities said in a note that earlier expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve was preparing to take steps to support the economy have boosted markets to the point where they are now vulnerable to a setback in the absence of new Fed moves.

In Singapore, Keppel Corp. was among the worst performers on the benchmark index, shedding 1.6% to close at S$11.39 as some investors sought to book profits after a run up in the share price of the world's biggest rig builder after it announced a slew of orders this month. Smaller rival Sembcorp Marine closed 0.6% lower at S$5.03, also giving up some of its recent gains.

Olam International shed 1.5% to close at S$2.00 as investors remained jittery about the commodity supplier's earnings report, due on Tuesday. Noble Group closed 0.8% lower at S$1.245, while Wilmar International shed 0.6% to close at S$3.18.

Neptune Orient Lines, whose shares react sharply to developments in the western economies where the container shipper is most exposed in its business, fell 1.3% to close at S$1.145.

Fraser & Neave was the top performer on the STI, adding 1.6% to close at S$8.45 after a large chunk of the company's shares traded hands in a block trade, fuelling speculation Thai Beverage is building up its stake in the company ahead of the conglomerate's shareholders' vote on Heineken's offer for Asia Pacific Breweries, the makers of Tiger beer. Asia Pacific Breweries was flat at S$53.

Market Summary 18 August 2012

Singapore shares closed flat Friday, with traders content to hold their positions ahead of a holiday weekend, but cyclical stocks gained modestly and commodity plays edged down.

The 30-share Straits Times Index fell 0.03%, or 0.78 points, to close at 3,062.11. Volumes were 1.74 billion shares, down from 1.99 billion on Thursday, with gainers outnumbering losers by 197 to 157.

Rig-builder Keppel Corp. continued its climb, gaining 0.5% to close at S$11.58, as the stock benefits from a fat orderbook.

Commodity companies closed lower, amid concerns that their margins will be squeezed as governments seek to tamp down inflation and the global economy remains tepid. Olam International Ltd. fell 1.0% to close at S$2.04, while Golden Agri-Resources Ltd. dropped 0.7% to S$0.71.

Shares of Fraser & Neave Ltd. and Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd. were suspended from trade, at the companies' request, as people familiar with the situation said Heineken is in talks with F&N about an increased offer for APB. Heineken now raises offer for APB to $53 from $50.

Just to shared.

Singapore is in holiday mood that is why the shares does not move volatility but inch up or down. The USA seems has better recovery rate now compare to others nations. Europe remains flat and China hard landing seems getting worried. I hope their government aware the situation and planning for solution, otherwise their hard landing will get the world economic worsen. 

Market Summary 11 August 2012

Singapore shares ended flat Friday in line with most regional bourses, as disappointing Chinese trade data curbed appetite for shares. The 30-share Straits Times Index inched up 1.95 points to close at 3,054.20.

China's trade surplus fell below expectations, as exports suffered from slack external demand. Earlier in the day, Singapore's government announced the economy contracted 0.7% in the second quarter, a slightly smaller contraction than forecast earlier, but it warned of headwinds from global uncertainties. "There's no inspiration on the macro front" in either Singapore or China, said Song Seng Wun, head of research at CIMB.

Volumes were down with 1.17 billion shares traded compared with 1.36 billion on Wednesday. Singapore markets were closed Thursday for National Day. Gainers outnumbered decliners 216 to 146.

Among the shares that gained, Keppel Corp. rose 1.5%, closing at S$11.40, after it announced two rig-building contracts worth about US$950 million from Brazil's Petrobras-led consortium.

Food and beverage firm Fraser & Neave Ltd. was up 0.9% after a block trade Friday morning raised speculation that Thai Beverage PCL could be adding to its stake. ThaiBev has been building its stake in F&N, and now owns 24.1%. Goh Han Peng, an analyst at DMG & Partners, said it's likely ThaiBev is behind the latest trade because it would pressure Heineken NV to increase its offer for Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd. Heineken and F&N have a 50-50 joint venture that owns a 64.8% stake in APB.

Among the losers on the STI, Neptune Orient Lines was the day's biggest decliner, shedding 4.1% to close at S$1.165, after the container shipper posted a net loss of US$291 million on Wednesday.

Capitaland declined 2.29%, closing at $2.99, as investors remain wary of China's property market. "The perception is that the Chinese property market, although it has bottomed out, it may not be allowed to run too much," said CIMB's Song.

Just to share.