S'pore shares end week in the black on strong export figures

• STI up 0.3%; gainers pip losers 271 to 183 in wider market • Sembcorp Industries tops benchmark index on 1.3% rise • Markets in Japan and S. Korea dip; HK and Malaysia see gains

- Megan Cheah and Chong Xin Wei

Surprisingly buoyant export data pointed to a strengthening Singapore economy and helped local shares end the week on a positive note.

The country's non-oil domestic exports rose 9 per cent year on year in December, beating the expectations of private sector economists.

Nomura economists said the strong showing "supports our view that the Government's advance estimate of manufacturing sector growth in the fourth quarter is too cautious amid the continued global tech uptrend".