Singapore stocks close lower despite gains in most of region

STI slips 0.4%, dragged down by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding DFI Retail tops index while local bank trio end in the red RHB upgrades banking stocks with 'buy' call on UOB, DBS

- Chloe Lim and Ranamita Chakraborty

Stocks in Singapore closed lower on Nov 25, even as most regional markets ended in positive territory.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) shed some earlier gains, slipping 0.4 per cent or 14.63 points to 3,731.39 at the close.

Across the broader market, gainers outnumbered losers 280 to 271, after 1.6 billion securities worth $2.9 billion changed hands.

The STI was dragged down by maritime vessel maker Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, which fell 2.2 per cent or six cents to $2.63.