Second Chance's 1Q earnings rise 48.4% to $2.5 million

Second Chance Properties posted a 48.4% rise in earnings to $2.5 million for the 1Q16 ended Nov despite revenue recording a fall of 7.1% to $8.2 million.

 

Sales from apparel business decreased to $1.74 million from $2.25 million a year ago. Of the $1.74 million, Malaysian apparel business contributed $1.40 million. The closure of four shops in Malaysia, the introduction of GST, the weakening Malaysian Ringgit and intense competition there, all resulted in the decreased revenue.

Singapore shares close 0.3% lower on Monday

SINGAPORE share prices finished 0.26 per cent lower on Monday, with the Straits Times Index (STI) falling 7.29 points to 2,845.55 on lower trading volumes.

The blue-chip index was dragged down as Brent crude oil futures plummeted to as low as US$36.17 per barrel, their weakest level since 2004.

About 911.1 million shares worth S$626.1 million changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$0.69 per share.

The most actively traded stock was engineering company Terratech, which leapt 49 per cent or 1.9 Singapore cents to S$0.058 with 70.8 million shares changing hands. Other actives included Ezra Holdings, Rex International and QT Vascular.

Though the STI slipped, smaller counters seem to have fared a bit better. In the broad market, gainers outnumbered losers 205 to 171, or about six up for every five down.

STI down 1.6% for the week ahead of FOMC meeting

THE impending Christmas holidays combined with ever-weakening oil prices and next week's US Federal Open Markets Committee meeting made for yet another forgettable week for the local stock market in which the Straits Times Index lost 45 points or 1.6 per cent at 2,834.63 - all in poor volume.

On Friday when the index drifted within a narrow band before closing 13.83 points weaker, turnover amounted to 971 million units worth S$825.2 million, the seventh consecutive session with volume below S$1 billion. Business in the STI components amounted to S$473 million, or about 57 per cent of the dollar total. Excluding warrants, there were 125 rises versus 257 falls.

There were only a few features of note, one being confirmation of the takeover of Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) by France's CMA CGM at S$1.30 per share. Probably because there are still many hurdles to be overcome before the deal is complete, NOL' shares spent the whole week around the S$1.22 level, ending at S$1.225 on Friday.

SGX says "Trade with Caution" alerts to be more detailed and targeted

SINGAPORE (Dec 9): Singapore Exchange (SGX) says it will detail its concerns in "Trade with Caution" (TWC) alerts about unusual trading activities in a company's stock.

The alerts will be more targeted as they will be issued on a case-by-case basis instead of being automatically triggered by a company's "not aware" reply to a public query from SGX.

The alerts may also contain details gathered from SGX's review of trading activities.

Currently, TWC alerts are automatically generated.

SingPost Group CEO Wolfgang Baier resigns to 'pursue new endeavours'

SINGAPORE (Dec 10): Singapore Post announced that Wolfgang Baier, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), has resigned to "pursue new endeavours".

Baier, 41, will however support a handover until 30 June 2016 or earlier.

SingPost said the board is looking for a GCEO both internally and externally.

As part of the transition plan, with effect from Jan 1, Deputy Chairman Goh Yeow Tin will be appointed an Executive Director for a period of 12 months.

Goh will oversee the group's post-merger integration activities, the business and operations in Singapore.

SGX's 20 biggest IT stocks averaged 8.3% YTD returns

SINGAPORE (Dec 8): Year to date, the 20 largest SGX-listed Information Technology (IT) stocks have averaged a total return of 8.3%.

This brings their three-year returns to 48.6%, according to Singapore Exchange's My Gateway report published on Tuesday.

The 20 IT stocks, which have a combined market capitalisation of $7.5 billion, have an average dividend yield of 4.6%.

Get daily updates at meetup

Join my Meetup group to get regular market updates -

http://www.meetup.com/Singapore-Forex-and-Currency-trading-Group/

STI slips 0.93% to 2,896.17 at midday

Singapore stocks declined at noon on Wednesday, amid mixed trading in other Asian markets. Geopolitical tensions were heightened after the downing of a warplane near Syria, leading to a standoff between Turkey and Russia.

 

Meanwhile, Singapore's gross domestic product rose 1.9% in the third quarter from a year earlier, buoyed by growth in services. This topped the median estimate of 1.4% in a Bloomberg poll.

UOB first to launch contactless payment with banking mobile app

United Overseas Bank has launched a new mobile app that allows customers to turn their mobile phones into electronic wallets that can be used to make contactless payments, the first such offering by a bank outside the U.S. 

For example, a user who wants to pay for an item in a shop with his UOB Visa credit or debit card will no longer need to flash the actual plastic. He can simply select the 'Pay' function on the UOB Mighty app, enter a PIN and tap against the payment terminal to complete the transaction.

STI closes 0.69% higher at 2,923.49

Singapore stocks inched up at the close on Tuesday, amid mixed performances in other Asian markets.

The Nikkei 225 and KOSPI Indices rose 0.23% and 0.63% respectively, while the Hang Seng Index slipped 0.35%. Meanwhile, the Shanghai and Shenzhen Composite Indices saw respective gains of 0.16% and 1.39%.

A total of 1.29 billion shares worth about $825.2 million changed hands, giving an average of 64 cents per share for the entire market.

Paris siege: Woman in building blows herself up with suicide belt

Paris Attacks 'live': 2 dead in siege including woman who blew self up - safeguard yourself in trading market with our advice

 

This could affect the market, the market can get highly volatile, the marekt can get doun, safeguard yourself from losses register with us and get services and free  trials- http://goo.gl/forms/KSg9DC4NDe

LATEST: TWO DEAD IN PARIS SIEGE, INCLUDING WOMAN WHO BLEW HERSELF UP: POLICE

AFP JOURNALIST AT THE SCENE SAYS FRENCH MILITARY IS DEPLOYED TO NORTH PARIS AMID SHOOTOUT. 

Stay inside - Residents told to stay inside in Saint-Denis north of Paris: reports

Army fatigues - 'Live' television footage is showing heavily armed officers in fatigues lining the streets of Saint-Denis as police target an apartment in the neighbourhood. 

AFP's Sarah Brethes, on the scene, has spoken to 26-year-old Hayat Balabdi who was visiting friends in the area of the shootout.

"It started around three in the morning, when I was leaving my friend's place. I could have been shot," he said.

"I heard a gunshot, I thought it was a score being settled. But then the shots continued, loads of police reinforcements arrived and closed off Avenue de la Republique. It was like a war."

Though he does not live in Saint Denis, Balabdi said that he knew the area well.
"I never thought terrorists could have been hiding out here."

French media are reporting two deaths.

RAID TARGETED SUSPECTED PARIS ATTACKS MASTERMIND ABDELHAMID ABAAOUD: POLICE SOURCE.

A large police operation is underway in the northern Paris suburb of Saint-Denis with reports of heavy gunfire. Multiple suspects are believed to be barricaded in an apartment building.
French TV station BFMTV said police officers had been wounded during the raid.

Saint-Denis is located near the Stade de France soccer stadium where three suicide bombers detonated killed themselves and another pedestrian.
 

SGX's bond-market foray now includes a dark pool

Singapore Exchange Ltd will open a dark pool for bonds as the 42-year-old bourse prepares to enter the institutional fixed-income trading business for the first time next year.

 

The venue, which allows traders to flag interest in a security without indicating the size or the price of their desired transaction, will form part of SGX's Bond Pro platform scheduled for the first quarter of 2016, Tsai Li Renn, the bourse's head of fixed income, said in an interview on Monday.

Designed to minimise the price impact of buy and sell orders, the dark pool will be the first of its kind set up by an exchange operator, according to SGX.

"We asked participants: 'How would you like to access liquidity in this marketplace?'" Mr Tsai said. "We found that they really wanted a dark pool."

For free trials and signals on phone register with us at-   http://goo.gl/forms/KSg9DC4NDe

SingTel kept at 'neutral' by Goldman Sachs, target price of $4.07 unchanged

SINGAPORE (Nov 17): Goldman Sachs is keeping Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) at "neutral" with an unchanged target price of $4.07, as it reckons the telco player is "fully valued".

The recommendation comes as the telco's 2Q FY16 results were in line with estimates of Goldman Sachs.

SingTel reported an underlying net profit of $974 million and revenue of $4.18 billion.

Goldman Sachs says the telco's core operations were stable, with growth in mobile data services and higher revenue from digital services.

SGX says health of companies operating in China worrying, tells directors to keep vigilant

SINGAPORE (Nov 17): Singapore Exchange has expressed concern over the financial health of companies with large operations in China and instructed their directors to discharge their duties to safeguard the interests of shareholders.

SGX is closely monitoring companies reporting adverse financial developments and their directors, according to its Regulator's Column published today. The column also provided guidelines for the board to handle specific cases of depletion of cash, assets or retained profits.

STI slips 0.94% to 2,898.27 at midday

SINGAPORE (Nov 16): Singapore equities nudged lower at noon on Monday, amid declines in other Asian bourses following attacks in Paris. Adding to the weak sentiment, Japan's economy also entered into a technical recession in the third quarter.

The Nikkei 225 and KOSPI Indices both slipped around 1%, while the Hang Seng Index slumped about 1.6%.

By 12.08 p.m., the Straits Times Index declined 0.94% to 2,898.27. Market breadth was negative. Excluding warrants, decliners outnumber gainers 255 to 74.

Golden Agri kept at 'hold' by OCBC with 34 cents fair value

SINGAPORE (Nov 16): OCBC is maintaining its "hold" call on Golden Agri with a higher fair value of 34 cents as its near-term outlook remains challenging and the research house suggests investors bargain-hunt at around 30 cents or better.

Golden Agri reported 3Q15 revenue of US$1.57 billion ($2.3 billion), down 15% from a year ago, hit by lower CPO prices.

Singapore Exchange trendings

Singapore Exchange (SGX) has introduced three new Asian Index Futures to provide investors wider access to almost all of Asia’s key capital and growth markets. The new contracts, namely the SGX-PSE MSCI Philippines Index Futures, SGX MSCI Thailand Index Futures and SGX MSCI India Index Futures, complement SGX’s extensive suite of equity derivatives offerings. 

In addition, it provides global investors deeper and more extensive reach into Asia’s emerging markets. The three new contracts will commence trading from 25 November 2013. For both on screen and off screen liquidity, SGX has secured participation from leading market makers including Barclays Capital Securities Limited, Goldman Sachs Futures Pte Ltd and Virtu Financial Singapore Pte Ltd.

Singapore shares close higher after five straight days of losses

After having fallen 109 points in five straight sessions up to Monday, the Straits Times Index on Tuesday rebounded 25.15 points to 2,999.56. This was in line with an overnight rally in Wall Street and gains in Hong Kong and China, although weakness in the Dow futures probably led to a stalling of the upward momentum - the index rose to near its closing level in the late morning and stayed there for all of the second half.

As has become the norm in past months, turnover was low at 1.3 billion units worth S$880.3 million. Volume in STI components amounted to 220.4 million units worth S$603.5 million, which means that non-STI stocks only contributed about S$277 million or 31 per cent of total business. Excluding warrants, there were 265 rises versus 140 falls.

The three banks have been the main drivers of the index throughout the year and it was again the case on Tuesday. DBS led the way with a S$0.35 or 2 per cent jump to S$17.60 on volume of six million shares following its Monday release of third quarter figures.

Macquarie Warrants (MW) said in its daily newsletter that Macquarie Equities Research (MER) believes the key reasons to buy DBS are (i) good earnings momentum in a relative context, (ii) relative beneficiary of higher rates given the strong S$ liquidity position, (iii) potential to lift dividend payout ratios, and (iv) potential to shift the strategic focus towards cost efficiency if growth opportunities continue to disappear. It has a 12-month target price of S$20.

Stocks to watch: CapitaLand, Pteris, VIT, Grand Banks Yachts

CORPORATE news is likely to drive trading activity here on Tuesday morning, amid a lack of catalysts and a retreat on Wall Street overnight.

CapitaLand

CAPITALAND Vietnam has entered into a joint venture with Saigon Commercial & Tourism Corporation, a subsidiary of Vietnamese developer Thanh Nien Corporation, to develop a prime site in District 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, for an estimated project value of US$55 million.

Pteris

PTERIS Global, a provider of integrated airport facility equipment globally, has secured contracts worth S$64.2 million from customers in China and the US.

Viva Industrial Trust

Viva Industrial Trust (VIT) reported a 2.4 per cent decline in distribution per stapled security (DPS) for the third quarter ended Sept 30 to 1.647 cents, due to enlarged DPS base following the issuance of 80.3 million new stapled securities in June. But distributable income rose 15.1 per cent to S$11.6 million and net property income for the quarter rose 29.6 per cent to S$12.5 million, driven by additional rental contribution from Jackson Square and Jackson Design Hub, and higher rental and other income from Technopark@Chai Chee.

Grand Banks Yachts

GRAND Banks Yachts managed to swing to a net profit of S$1.2 million in the first quarter ended Sept 30, from a net loss of S$1.3 million in the year-ago period. Following restructuring efforts after a major acquisition, gross profit margin jumped to 24.5 per cent from 9.5 per cent over the comparative periods.

Singapore shares close lower ahead of expected Wall Street weakness

WEAKNESS in the Dow futures on Tuesday outweighed slight gains in Hong Kong and China, bringing pressure to bear on the Straits Times Index (STI). The selling accelerated in the late afternoon after Europe opened in the red, with the result that the STI finished 30.54 points or one per cent lower at 3,052.53 in low volume of 1.3 billion units worth S$953.5 million.

Of this, S$683 million or 68 per cent came from trading in the 30 index stocks and stripping out the latter, the average value per unit traded was S$0.29. Excluding warrants there were 132 rises versus 285 falls.

The STI had risen for four consecutive days before Tuesday, gaining about 64 points, largely driven by promises of more stimulus from central banks in Europe, China and Japan.

However, with the US Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) meeting this week, and even though no rate hike is expected at the meeting, brokers said that markets have switched into cautious mode since the FOMC may offer clues as to when the rate hikes might begin.

Stocks to watch: SGX, Mapletree Commercial Trust, Cache Logistics Trust

THESE companies announced results that may influence trading on Thursday.

Singapore Exchange: SGX raised its base dividend and outlined its strategy to raise liquidity in the sluggish securities market as net profit rose 28 per cent for its fiscal first quarter ended Sept 30.

The market operator is raising its first-quarter cash dividend to five Singapore cents per share from four Singapore cents a year ago, and future quarterly payouts are expected to follow suit.

Net profit increased to S$99.3 million, or 9.3 Singapore cents per share, as operating revenue rose 30.1 per cent to S$219.6 million.

Singapore shares close mixed; penny stocks in focus

The Straits Times Index may have risen 6.67 points to 3,025.7 but Wednesday's trading was more about the rotational punting of penny stocks than the index. This was borne out by the volume statistics - 2.5 billion units worth S$696 million changed hands, which was an average of only S$0.28 per unit traded.

This compares with Tuesday's average of S$0.37, which suggests that in a week that is expected to be quiet, house traders and dealers, reassured by the recovery in blue chips, are turning their energies to the second- and third-line. Excluding warrants there were 218 rises versus 211 falls.

New names topped the actives list. Loyz Energy, which was the volume leader on Tuesday, did not feature in the top 20, and its place was taken by Stratech Group. Other names at the summit included Great Group, China Fishery and China Sky.

STI hazy as China concern clouds region

The local index falls only a slight 0.96 point even as Hong Kong gives up 0.7 per cent and Tokyo slides 1.9 per cent

LOCAL shares caught a lungful of midweek ennui as markets across the region choked on a different kind of recurring transboundary concern: ongoing worries about a slowdown in China.
The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) had enjoyed a brief respite above the 3,000-point level on Monday.

 

STI chalks up fifth rise in six sessions

TRADING in blue chips has contributed almost three quarters of daily volume over the past fortnight, and so it was again the case on Monday when the Straits Times Index's (STI) recent revival continued with a 33.61-point rise to 3,032.11.

Singapore News Highlights for Monday

• Singapore shares opened 0.29 per cent or 8.82 points lower at 2,989.68 despite Asian stocks edging higher elsewhere in the region, consolidating recent rises on late gains in Wall Street on Friday and a rebound in the commodities complex.
• Asian stocks climbed after biggest weekly rally since Dec 2011.
• SGX is reviewing companies' compliance with CG Code.
• China Sky's non-executive chairman has resigned.
• Tee International's Q1 profit went up 23.6%.
• SIA plane had collapsed at Changi Airport gate after nose gear retracted during landing gear check.
• OKP unit has won S$12.7m JTC contract.
• Oil edged up on lower US rig count, & weaker dollar.
• IMF urgeed Japan to proceed with second sales tax hike.
• Fed should not raise interest rates just yet- as said by China Finance Minister

Singapore shares close week higher in line with Wall Street

WALL Street's return to "bad economic news is good for stocks" has probably been the main driving force behind the Straits Times Index's 205 point, or 7.3 per cent, rise over the week to 2,998.5, of which 51.47 points came on Friday.

Also helping has been a relatively stable China market given the massive volatility it displayed last month.

Here, the overwhelming focus has been on blue chips throughout the past month, almost to the exclusion of the rest of the market. For most of the year up to September, a ballpark estimate of the proportion of daily dollar volume that was done in the 30 index components would be around 45-55 per cent; this week, the figure was around 75 per cent.

On Friday, turnover in the whole market amounted to 1.9 billion units worth S$1.4 billion of which S$1.1 billion or 79 per cent came from trades in STI members.

Stocks to watch: Noble, UOB, CDL, Oxley

THE following stocks had announcements or developments that could affect their trading activity on Thursday.

Noble Group: Its chief aluminium trader in Europe, Erik Gundersen, will leave the Asian commodities merchant, according to a Reuters report which cited sources. News of his planned exit comes after two of his US counterparts, Scott Evans and Jeff Romanek, who handled copper, lead and zinc, left the company on Tuesday.

UOB: The bank has gained pace in the cash management business, with a record 42 per cent jump in revenue for the first half of this year from a year ago.

CDL Hospitality Trusts: It has officially opened Claymore Connect - formerly known as Orchard Hotel Shopping Arcade - following a renovation exercise, which started in December 2013.

Singtel invests in new S$400m data centre in Jurong

SINGAPORE Telecommunications Ltd (Singtel) is making its biggest data centre investment in Singapore to date, with a new S$400 million facility in Jurong.

The Tier 3-Plus data centre - with an approximate gross floor area of 570,000 square feet - will meet growing demand for co-location and cloud services in Singapore. It will be completed in the third quarter of 2016.

Singapore News Highlights for Thursday

• Singapore share prices opened stronger, with the Straits Times Index (STI) up 16.47 points or 0.56 per cent to 2,978.28, following gains on Wall Street.
• Asia followed Wall St gains, while brace for return of China markets.
• Chinese stocks jump at open, catching up after global market rebound.
• Noble Group's chief aluminium trader in Europe, Erik Gundersen, will be leaving the Asian commodities merchant.
• UOB record 42 per cent jump in revenue for the first half of this year from a year ago.
• Oxley Holdings clarified that the reported acquisitions in International Healthway Corp (IHC) by its chief executive Ching Chiat Kwong and deputy CEO Low See Ching are "personal and independent investment decisions". 
• Ascott triples units have been added in SEA.
• SingPost completed successfully test flight of drone for mail delivery.
• PEC warned of loss as S$19m is outstanding from Jurong Aromatics Corporation.
• Kwek/Quek family in Malaysia and Singapore is sixth-richest in Asia.
• Dollar little changed as compared to euro & yen.
• Oil fell down after rise in US inventories,& production.
• Gold climbed to one-week high on signs of slowing Global economic growth.

Singapore shares close higher in line with Wall Street

WALL Street continued its recovery on Monday and this helped the Straits Times Index (STI) jump 46.16 points or 1.6 per cent to 2,897.41 on Tuesday, bringing its two-day rebound to 105 points or 3.8 per cent.

Once again it was blue chips which provided most of dollar volume - of the whole market's 1.5 billion units worth S$1.2 billion that was traded, S$944 million or 79 per cent was done in the 30 STI components. Excluding warrants, there were 263 rises versus 138 falls.

Among the banks, OCBC ended S$0.11 higher at S$9.06 on volume of six million. Nomura in a Oct 1 Quick Note on OCBC said that it continues to have a "buy" rating on the stock as it believes the bank has strong risk management and a strong balance sheet which will serve it well during this cyclical downturn.

"In addition we believe higher interest rates in Singapore will help cushion its net interest margins from downside pressure from its overseas operations," said Nomura. "We view the current valuations of 1x 12-month forward book as a good entry point."

Stocks to watch: Ramba Energy, Sinocloud Group, Global Yellow Pages

THE following companies released material announcements either after Friday's close or before the start of trading on Monday morning.

Mandala Energy will invest up to US$179.6 million in a 35 per cent stake in the Lemang Production Sharing Contract (Lemang PSC) from Ramba Energy's subsidiary, PT Hexindo Gemilang Jaya.

Ramba Energy is an Indonesia-focused oil & gas exploration and production company. The Lemang block is located in the northernmost part of the South Sumatra basin, a proven region for oil and gas production.

The sum includes an upfront cash payment of US$26.25 million, sliding-scale future contingent payments based on certification of oil & gas reserves, partial carry for Ramba's share of three exploration wells; and a cash payment upon declaration of the first new exploration discovery.

Singapore News Highlights for Monday

• Singapore benchmark Straits Times Index opened higher, after Wall Street gained on Friday, rising 36.23 points or 1.3 per cent to 2,829.38.
• Mandala Energy will invest US$179.6 million in a 35% stake in the Lemang Production Sharing Contract from Ramba Energy's subsidiary, PT Hexindo Gemilang Jaya.
• Sinocloud cancelled its proposed acquisition of up to 45.95% of China Satellite Mobile Communications Group.
• Global Yellow Pages signed a deal to buy a company that handles the retail master franchise and supply chain business for the Wendy's brand of ice-cream in Australia and New Zealand.
• Singapore Exchange (SGX) has launched a new index business,named "SGX Index Edge", which will offer comprehensive services aimed at addressing the rising demand for index-linked investment in Asia.
• Oil gains near US$45 as falling rigs signal US output cuts.
• Dollar slumped,while Asian index futures rise as jobs dim rate outlook.
• World Bank trims 2015 & 2016 East Asia forecasts, cites China and US rate risks.

STI MARKET REVIEW

Singapore benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) opened at 2,800.54 points, up 9.65 points or 0.35 per cent, after US stocks gained the previous night and ahead of the release of China's official purchasing managers' index (PMI) data, a manufacturing gauge and ended 11.51 points or 0.41% higher to 2772.36. STI came off from its intra-day peak of 2799.80 and low of 2772.36 Top LosersScrip NameCMP%changeNOBLE0.41-1.2KEPPEL CORP6.72-0.88SEMBCORP

MARINE2.27-0.87UOL5.96-0.83JARDINE C&C26.82-0.74Singapore stocks posted gains midday on better-than-expected economic data out of China. China's official Purchasing Managers' Index climbed to 49.8 in September, compared with a median estimate of 49.7 in a Bloomberg poll, as well as an August reading of
49.7.

LOCAL BOURSE
Singapore home prices dropped for an eighth quarter, matching the longest losing streak in 13 years, as tighter mortgage curbs cooled demand in Asia's second-most expensive housing market. An index tracking private residential prices fell 1.3% in the three months ended Sept. 30 from the previous quarter. The slump was the most since June 2009, in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

Market forecast:
STI is expected to be positive tomorrow as China's official Purchasing Managers' Index has come better than expected. STI has the support level of 2778. STI has its resistance at 2828. If it breaks this level it might go up to 2860. Investor sentiments are still cautious over the early rate hike of U.S. by FED.

Singapore News Highlights fro wednesday

• Singapore benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) opened flat at 2,786.63 points, down 1.31 points or 0.05 per cent, after a Tuesday afternoon rebound.
• Lifebrandz posted a S$7.63 million loss for full-year 2015.
• Cacola Furniture will resume trading only after announcing the termination of a reverse takeover that would have seen company go into agri-food business.
• Singapore's Petrochemical Plant is in receivership.
• S$ bonds are resilient amid equity alngwith currency selloffs.
• Noble Group shares fell by 15% on global commodity woes.
• Singapore property auction market recorded S$27.6m of sales in Q3.
• Asian share slide halts but weaker commodity outlook weighs.
• Asian futures rose amid late US rally while yen holds advance.
• Switzerland has topped the World Economic Forum's competitiveness ranking for a 7th consecutive year, with Singapore and the US second and third.
• Oil prices rallies as equities stabilise.
• Palm oil prices seen up 40 per cent by mid-2016.
• IMF has warned of market breakdown potential due to low rates.
• Dollar has drifted lower as market awaits Yellen rate comments.
• Sing dollar has fallen through S$1.43 against US dollar, to fresh six-year

SGX Call-

BUY GEnting SIng @ 0.720
SL 0.680
Tgt 0.760/0.800

Get offers  on yearly pakages, and  all Quartly and half yearly pakages... Hurrryyyy Limited time offer ... http://goo.gl/8ChH2d

Singapore shares open lower again on global market turmoil

SINGAPORE'S benchmark Straits Times Index opened on Tuesday morning at 2,754.35 points, down 1.35 per cent or 37.57 points, at 9.03am.

The decline echoed Monday sell-offs in the US and Europe, along with falling commodities prices. Some 65.8 million shares worth S$78.2 million changed hands. Gainers outnumbered losers 20 to 141. Top stocks traded by value were DBS, ST Engineering, Singtel, UOB and OCBC. All opened lower.

Singapore News Highlights for Monday

• Singapore benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) opened lower at 2,828.07 points, down 4.57 points or 0.16 per cent, ahead of data on China industrial profits.
• Asian shares held back by insipid Wall St while dollar consolidates.
• Frasers Hospitality, is in talks with funds to buy assets in Europe.
• Sunright has reported a increase in net profit to S$3.1 million for its full year ended July 31, 2015.
• CMC Infocomm Ltd won S$4 million worth of contracts from Singapore telcos.
• Vard Holdings has secured new contracts worth over US$100 million for the designing and construction of two offshore sub-sea construction vessels for Dubai-based Topaz Energy and Marine.
• Oil prices fell down on slowing global economic growth outlook.
• China's August industrial profits have fallen 8.8% year on year.
• Greek's finance minister is confident of returning to growth.

Singapore shares open 0.7% down

SINGAPORE shares opened 0.7 per cent lower as at 9.03 am on Friday, with the Straits Times Index down 19.5 points to 2,826.24 after US Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen said in overnight remarks that she was personally supportive of a rate hike this year.

The banks weighed on the index, with DBS Group Holdings down by 1.5 per cent or 25 Singapore cents to change hands at S$16.65 as at 9.03 am. OCBC Bank slipped 0.3 per cent or three Singapore cents to trade at S$8.88, while United Overseas Bank eased by 0.7 per cent or 14 Singapore cents to cross at S$18.83.

About 85.1 million shares worth S$98 million in total changed hands.

Medtecs International was among the most active right out of the gate, jumping 15.1 per cent or 0.8 Singapore cent to trade at 6.1 Singapore cents with 5.9 million shares changing hands.

Losers outnumbered gainers 82 to 70, or about seven down for every six up.

Bounce in Dow futures helps trim ST Index's loss

THE Straits Times Index (STI) on Wednesday was hit by a combination of factors - a 2.2 per cent loss in the Shanghai Composite after news that China's purchasing managers' index (PMI) has slumped to a six-year low, a 2.3 per cent fall in Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index and perhaps most relevantly.

Stocks to watch: Rowsley, YuuZoo, SGX, industrial Reits

Rowsley: Billionaire Peter Lim's real-estate vehicle Rowsley has decided against waiting for the Iskandar residential market to recover.

Citing "prevailing market sentiment" and a "strong pipeline" for the residential segment there, the firm announced on Tuesday that it now intends to turn its long-delayed mega Vantage Bay project in Johor into a cluster of healthcare-related facilities with an expected total development value of RM5 billion (S$1.6 billion).

This figure is slightly less than the previous RM5.5 billion estimate for Rowsley's original plan for the 9.23 ha Vantage Bay, which was to have been an integrated development comprising a 75-storey condominium, a mall, office blocks and a hotel.

YuuZoo Corporation: The e-commerce company is appointing James Sundram as chief executive officer, starting Oct 1.

Singapore SGX News Highlights for wednesday

• Singapore share prices opened lower with the Straits Times Index (STI) down 11.23 points or 0.39 per cent to 2,857.24
• Asian shares slipped on growth anxiety focus now shifts to China PMI.
• Asian futures point to more stock losses before China factory PMI
• Rowsley has decided not to wait for the Iskandar residential market to recover.
• YuuZoo Corporation is appointing James Sundram as chief executive officer, from Oct 1.
• SGX could face toughest questions yet at an annual shareholders' meeting as pressure mounts to find new sources of revenue.
• DBS will introduce cashless options through mobile app to F&B outlets in Singapore.
• NOL couldn't explain high volume, except maybe market talk of Temasek selling stake
• Industrial Reit in Singapore will remain resilient in the face of the current economic slowdown, underpinned by its "robust" financial profiles.
• Oil moves up on falling US inventories.

STI unmoved by new benchmark entrants

THE usual suspects were strikingly missing from the line-up of local index movers after a significant change to the Straits Times Index (STI) basket took effect on Monday, but the market's attention was already elsewhere.

Singapore shares open higher on Tuesday in Wall St's footsteps

SINGAPORE share prices opened higher on Tuesday with the Straits Times Index (STI) up 11.13 points or 0.39 per cent to 2,893.40 at 9am.

This followed the Dow and S&P 500 which rallied on Monday, recovering some of the prior session's losses. Gains were minimal on the tech-rich Nasdaq, however, due to weakness among biotech shares.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average shot up 125.61 points (0.77 per cent) to 16,510.19. The broad-based S&P 500 rose 8.94 points (0.46 per cent) to 1,966.97, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged up 1.73 points (0.04 per cent) to 4,828.95.

In Asia, financial markets in Japan are closed from Monday to Wednesday for a public holiday.