Singapore stocks top 5,000-point mark for first time in three weeks; STI up 1.3%

The iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index is up 0.9% at 1,457.76. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Singapore stocks ended higher on March 18 closing above the 5,000-point mark for the first time since the conflict in the Middle East began three weeks ago.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) gained 1.3 per cent or 66.2 points to finish at 5,002.17. Meanwhile, the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index rose 0.9 per cent or 12.41 points to 1,457.76.

UOL led the gainers on Singapore’s blue-chip index, rising 4.9 per cent to end at $10.20, with the counter trading on a cum-dividend basis.

The worst performer among STI constituents was Singtel which fell 0.8 per cent to close at $5.13.

The three local banks ended higher. DBS gained 1.2 per cent to $57.76, OCBC rose 1.7 per cent to $21.45, and UOB was up 0.9 per cent at $37.21.

On the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index, China Aviation Oil was the top gainer, rising 8.9 per cent to $2.21. Singapore Post was the biggest loser, falling 2.8 per cent to end at 34.5 cents.