The Singapore stock market has finished lower in consecutive trading days, tumbling more than 90 points or 2.7 percent along the way. The Straits Times index now rests just beneath the 3,340-point plateau although it figures to snap the losing streak on Thursday.
The global forecast for the Asian markets is upbeat, with bargain hunting expected to boost the oversold bourses. The European markets were mixed, and the U.S. markets were higher - and the Asian markets figure to split the difference.
The STI finished sharply lower on Wednesday following losses from the financial shares, plantations, properties and industrials.
For the day, the index sank 72.45 points or 2.12 percent to finish at 3,339.70 after trading between 3,338.96 and 3,421.02. Volume was 2 billion shares worth 1.6 billion Singapore dollars. There were 398 decliners and 112 gainers.
Among the actives, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding plummeted 4.24 percent, while Genting Singapore plunged 3.74 percent, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation tumbled 3.23 percent, Wilmar International skidded 3.14 percent, City Developments dropped 3.00 percent, Keppel Corp retreated 2.98 percent, Golden Agri-Resources shed 2.82 percent, DBS Group lost 2.61 percent, United Overseas Bank slid 2.52 percent, Thai Beverage surrendered 2.50 percent, CapitaLand was down 1.94 percent, Hutchison Port Holdings climbed 1.69 percent, SingTel fell 1.48 percent and Comfort DelGro slipped 0.98 percent.
The lead from Wall Street is positive as stocks showed a substantial turnaround on Wednesday after opening sharply lower as the major averages bounced firmly into positive territory.
The Dow added 230.94 points or 0.96 percent to 24,264.30, while the NASDAQ jumped 100.83 points or 1.45 percent to 7,042.11 and the S&P gained 30.24 points or 1.16 percent to 2,644.69.
The rebound came as traders shrugged off trade war concerns that initially weighed on the markets after China issued a list of 106 U.S. products that will be subject to additional tariffs.
In economic news, payroll processor ADP noted stronger than expected private sector job growth in March, while the Institute for Supply Management said the pace of growth in the service sector slowed in March.
Crude oil futures slipped Wednesday despite confirming a drop in U.S. oil supplies. WTI light sweet oil futures fell 14 cents or 0.2 percent to end at $63.37 a barrel.
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December 19, 2025 15:10 ET U.S. inflation data and interest rate decisions by major central banks were the highlights of this busy week for economics news flow. Employment data and survey results on the housing markets also gained attention in the U.S. In Europe, the European Central Bank and Bank of England announced their policy decisions and macroeconomic projections.