Singapore stocks gain more ground; STI up 1.5%

Singapore stocks ended higher on Dec 12, following regional indexes.

- Benjamin Cher

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) gained 1.5 per cent, or 65.62 points, to finish at 4,586.45 points. Meanwhile, the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index edged up 0.53 points to 1,434.64 points.

Across the broader market, gainers beat losers 360 to 200, after 1.3 billion securities worth $1.7 billion changed hands.

Key regional indexes were positive. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 1.8 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index advanced 1.4 per cent, South Korea’s Kospi was up 1.4 per cent, and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI increased 0.8 per cent.