STI gains 0.8% ahead of US elections, in tandem with regional markets

WITH investors holding their breath ahead of the US presidential election and the mega listing of Ant Financial Group in Hong Kong and Shanghai later this week, Singapore stocks turned in a rather mixed performance on Monday.

Sentiment across the market seemed cautious, with advancers lagging gainers 192 to 236. Yet, the benchmark Straits Times Index climbed 19.29 points or 0.8 per cent to end the day at 2,443.13.

The biggest gainer among components of the index was Wilmar International. The agri-business giant ended the day 5.2 per cent higher at S$4.25, after reporting solid Q3 earnings and announcing a special dividend last Friday.