Singapore shares open 0.3% down on Friday as traders await US jobs data

SINGAPORE stocks opened 0.3 per cent lower on Friday, with the Straits Times Index dropping 9.23 points to 2,807.24 as at 9am.

Traders are watching the release of US jobs data later tonight, as strong job gains will increase the certainty for a September rate hike.

"We expect that the solid pace of gains in recent months continued in August, and payrolls could have advanced by 225,000 in the month," said a Societe Generale research report.

In Singapore, about 49.5 million shares worth S$58.2 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$1.18.

The field was evenly matched, with as many gainers as losers at 54 each.

Top stocks by value traded were Singtel, SGX, SIA, Thai Beverage and Hongkong Land.

Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Malaysia: Shares open higher on Thursday

MALAYSIA share prices opened higher on Thursday with the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index up 4.110 points to 1682.350.

Volume was 61.3 million lots worth RM43.9 million.

Losers outnumbered gainers 86 to 81.

Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Asia: Markets mostly down but Tokyo soars on weak yen

Tokyo stocks resumed a rally on Wednesday as the yen fell against the dollar on US interest rate talk but most other Asian markets struggled as investors were spooked by the prospects of higher borrowing costs in the world's top economy.

Dollar demand has intensified since Federal Reserve boss Janet Yellen on Friday hinted at a possible hike as data point to continued economic improvement.

Figures showing US consumer confidence at its highest level in almost a year provided further evidence of a brighter outlook.

On Tuesday vice chairman Stanley Fischer told Bloomberg TV that any movement in rates was dependent on data, adding that "employment is very close to full employment".Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

South Korea's July factory output rebounds, focus turns to trade

South Korea's industrial output unexpectedly grew in July but the improvement was mainly due to temporary factors, spurring investors to hone in on trade data out on Thursday for further clues on the health of the economy.

In monthly terms, industrial output rose 1.4 per cent in July on a seasonally adjusted basis as production of electronic components and cars boosted activity, data showed on Wednesday.

The median forecast in a Reuters survey of analysts was for output to decline 0.6 per cent from June. June's reading was revised down to minus 0.4 per cent from minus 0.2 per cent estimated earlier.

"We think the bounces in confidence and in IP growth are noise rather than signal and that IP growth remains essentially flat and services are growing around 3 per cent," said Tim Condon, economist at ING. "If IP and services remain at their July level in the remainder of the quarter, we estimate third-quarter growth at 3.0 per cent."Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Hong Kong, Shanghai: Shares open flat

Hong Kong shares were barely moved in the first few minutes of trade Wednesday following the previous day's sharp gains.

The Hang Seng Index edged down 3.92 points, to 23,012.19.

And in Shanghai the composite index was flat, edging down 1.76 points to 3,072.92, while the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, was marginally down, dipping 0.21 points to 2,028.57.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Australia: Shares at 1-month low on US rate rise concerns

Australian stocks fell for a third straight session on Monday to their lowest in over a month as sentiment was dampened by comments from top US Fed officials raising the possibility of an interest rate hike this year.

The S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.4 per cent as of 0232 GMT. The benchmark lost 0.5 per cent last Friday.

Fed chair Janet Yellen told a global monetary policy conference last Friday that the case for a rate increase had grown stronger, but she did not indicate when the Fed might hike rates.

However, Fed vice chair Stanley Fischer suggested a move could come at the central bank's September policy meeting if the economy was doing well.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Taiwan: Stocks fall on weaker overseas markets, technical selling in TSMC

Taiwan stocks fell on Monday tracking weakness in overseas markets and on technical selling in heavyweight chipmaker TSMC.

Most Asian shares slipped in early trade on Monday after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen indicated a possible rate hike in the US later this year.

As of 0244 GMT, the main TAIEX index fell 0.7 per cent to 9,070.84, after closing up 0.2 per cent in the previous session.

The electronics subindex fell 0.7 per cent, but the financials subindex gained 0.1 per cent.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Seoul: Won, stocks fall on growing chance of Fed rate hike soon

The South Korean won plunged more than 1 per cent against the dollar early on Monday after Janet Yellen's comments on Friday raised the chance the Federal Reserve may raise US interest rates soon, and even twice, by year-end.

The won was quoted at 1,124.1 as of 0214 GMT, down 0.9 per cent from the previous close of 1,113.7. It reached as low as 1,128.5, a one-week intraday low.

Ms Yellen suggested that the US economy has strengthened enough for a rate hike while Fed's No 2 policymaker Stanley Fischer hinted on more than one policy tightening before year end.

"The US August job report due this coming Friday will be closely watched by investors for whether a rate hike as early as next month will actually be possible," said Park Sung-woo, a foreign exchange analyst at NH Futures.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Singapore shares open 0.4% down on Monday

SINGAPORE stocks opened 0.4 per cent lower on Monday, with the Straits Times Index shedding 10.95 points to 2,846.7 as at 9am.

The blue-chip index was dented by indications from Fed officials that a rate hike is on the way this year.

About 36.3 million shares worth S$37.3 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$1.03 per share.

Top stocks by value traded included Jardine Matheson, Keppel, Singtel, OCBC and DBS.

Losers outnumbered gainers 73 to 49, or about three down for every two up.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

China, US still in talks on trade pact despite challenges: Chinese commerce official

China and the United States are still in frequent discussion about a bilateral trade pact, despite a challenging global trade environment, a Chinese commerce official said on Thursday.

China is keen to maintain open markets for its goods as its economy grows at its slowest pace in 25 years, but it faces rising trade tensions as its imports deteriorate faster than exports, setting it up for another record trade surplus.

Last year, the US trade deficit with China was US$336.2 billion, according to the US Trade Representative's office.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to slap tariffs on Chinese products to show Beijing the United States is "not playing games anymore".Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Taiwan: Stocks flat on caution in overseas markets, financial shares slip

Taiwan stocks were nearly unchanged on Friday in cautious trade as bellwether financial shares slipped and on weakness in overseas markets.

As of 0209 GMT, the main Taiex index was little changed at 9,113.28, after closing 1.1 per cent higher in the previous session.

The electronics subindex fell 0.2 per cent, while the financials subindex gained 0.1 per cent.

Shares in CTBC Financial were up 0.3 per cent.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Stocks to watch: IHH, Croesus Retail Trust, Sim Lian

EARNINGS dominated overnight news heading into Friday's market opening.

IHH Healthcare's second-quarter net profit rose 8 per cent to RM246.1 million (S$82.2 million) on the back of gains from a divestment and foreign exchange. The group posted a RM54.8 million gain from selling its 90 per cent stake in Shenton Insurance.

Croesus Retail Trust raised its distribution per unit to 1.7 Singapore cents for the fourth quarter as fair-value adjustments dragged down net profit by 21.8 per cent to 4.4 billion yen (S$59 million).

The Japan-focused real estate investment trust's net property income rose 19.4 per cent to 1.44 billion yen in the three months ended June 30, but fair-value gains on investment properties slipped 6.2 per cent to 5.6 billion yen while derivative financial instruments incurred a loss of 820.6 million yen compared to a year-ago gain of 233.7 million yen.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

China's yuan firms vs dollar, focus on Yellen's Jackson Hole speech

China's yuan firmed on Thursday, underpinned by a modest pullback in the dollar index in Asian morning trade though activity remained subdued.

Trading was cautious ahead of the global central bankers' gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's speech on Friday may offer fresh clues on US monetary policy outlook.

"Signals on US monetary policy trend appear quite mixed of late," said a trader at a European bank in Shanghai.

"So (Chinese) banks choose to take a wait-and-see attitude, not to quote yuan/dollar rates aggressively. As such, the yuan's movements this morning were quite insignificant."Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Oil holds losses near one-week low after surprise stockpile gain

Oil held losses near the lowest close in a week as US crude stockpiles unexpectedly increased, keeping supplies at the highest in at least three decades with the peak summer demand period approaching its end.

Futures were little changed in New York after falling 2.8 per cent Wednesday. Inventories rose by 2.5 million barrels last week, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey had projected a decline. Iraq will attend informal Opec talks next month in Algiers, Deputy Oil Minister Fayyad Al-Nima said in a phone interview.

Oil entered a bull market on Aug 18, less than three weeks after tumbling into a bear market. Prices surged partly on speculation that informal discussions among members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producers may lead to action to stabilise the market.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Australia, NZ dollars up slightly ahead of Yellen's take on Fed outlook

The Australian and New Zealand dollars were marginally up on Thursday as investors counted down to a much-anticipated speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen for more clarify on the outlook for US interest rates.

The Australian dollar was up 0.2 per cent at US$0.7627. It is mostly unchanged so far this week, trapped in a tight range of US$0.7584 to US$0.7655.

The Aussie has added more than 5 per cent in the last two months but has been muted in August largely due to conflicting views on US monetary policy.

Investors are now looking to Ms Yellen's speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Friday for insight on the US monetary policy outlook.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Hot stock: Sheng Siong shares fall on profit taking

SHARES of supermarket chain Sheng Siong Group fell on Thursday following profit taking, with the counter climbing in recent weeks after it posted record margins in its latest results.

The stock was down 2.5 Singapore cents or 2.3 per cent to S$1.055 at 10.46am.

"Investors can consider taking some profits at current share price levels," said an OCBC Investment Research report on Thursday, referring to Sheng Siong's share performance. Shares of Sheng Siong - a top pick for the brokerage - have risen [BUY, S$1.07]6 per cent over the past three trading days.

The brokerage is "neutral" on the consumer sector, noting a subdued outlook for the local macro environment, and on consumer spending. It cited data from Nielsen showing that consumers have reduced certain discretionary expenditures, and some may switch to cheaper grocery brands.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Singapore shares open 2.24 points higher on Thursday

SINGAPORE share prices opened higher on Thursday, with the Straits Times Index up 2.24 points or 0.08 per cent to 2,871.81 as at 9.04am, despite losses on Wall Street overnight.

Top gainers in early-morning trade included DBS and UOB.

Some 31.5 million shares worth S$52.9 million changed hands, with losers outnumbering gainers 68 to 46.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Singapore shares close up 19 points

THE Straits Times Index on Wednesday closed up 19.14 points at 2,869.57, as bank counters and some defensive stocks continued to be in play.

Some 987.5 million units worth S$838 million changed hands. Gainers exceeded losers in the Singapore market at 236 to 151.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Singapore stocks open 0.1% lower on Wednesday

SINGAPORE stocks opened lower on Wednesday, with the Straits Times Index shedding 0.1 per cent or 2.93 points to 2,847.50 as at 9.04am.
Gainers outnumbered losers 80 to 51, or more than three up for every two down, with 51.7 million shares worth S$43.8 million traded.

Noble Group was among the most active stocks out of the gate, gaining 0.8 per cent or 0.1 Singapore cent to change hands at 13 Singapore cents.

CNMC Goldmine, which has announced an extension of its mining lease, rose 2.7 per cent or 1.5 Singapore cents to 58 Singapore cents.

Among the index stocks, Jardine Cycle & Carriage slipped 0.2 per cent or seven Singapore cents to S$43.03.Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More

Australia shares gain on strong earnings; NZ hits another record

Australian shares climbed 0.8 per cent on Tuesday aided by broad-based gains across all sectors as sentiment was buoyed by better-than-feared results from several large companies in the earnings season so far.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 42.15 points to 5,557.20 by 0115 GMT. The benchmark lost 0.21 per cent on Monday.

Banks and healthcare stocks led gains, aided by strong earnings from healthcare services provider Healthscope which posted a nearly 19 per cent rise in full year profits.

Australian companies have fared well in the current earnings season which is almost halfway through, Deutsche and UBS analysts wrote in separate 'earnings review' notes.

Click Here To Register For Free Trial Services OR Give A Missed Call : +6531581402 Follow Us On Twitter : www.twitter.com/epicresearchsg Like Us On Facebook : www.facebook.com/EpicResearchSingapore Need Any Assistance Feel Free To Mail Us at : info@epicresearch.sg

Read More