STI outperforms broader market

EQUITY benchmarks in Asia were mostly in a buoyant mood on Tuesday, building on their rally since the turn of the year.

"The air of optimism remains thick as improving risk sentiment on the back of US-China trade talks has Asia markets accelerating higher," SPI Asset Management's head of trading and market strategy, Stephen Innes, remarked.

The Straits Times Index (STI) pared Monday's dip to close at 3,332.04, up 6.18 points or 0.2 per cent, getting a lift from tech and banking counters.

China led the region's gains with the Shanghai Composite Index adding 2.4 per cent to close at 3,253.6, a near 13-m…