The Singapore stock market has finished lower now in back-to-back sessions, slipping more than 70 points or 2.2 percent in that span. The Straits Times Index settled just above the 3,265-point plateau, and now the market may find traction on Friday.
The global forecast for the Asian markets is positive thanks to a recovery among the Chinese markets, as well as optimism that an accord may be reached in the Greek debt situation. The European and U.S. markets finished higher, and the Asian markets are expected to open in similar fashion.
The STI finished modestly lower on Thursday as losses from the financials, plantations and properties were mitigated by support from the industrial sector.
For the day, the index declined 17.59 points or 0.54 percent to finish at 3,267.40 after trading between 3,249.89 and 3,289.28. Volume was 1.27 billion shares worth 1.20 billion Singapore dollars.
Among the actives, CapitaLand shed 1.18 percent, while Singapore Airlines lost 1.17 percent, Golden Agri-Resources dropped 3.85 percent, Noble Group fell 1.44 percent, Olam International climbed 1.10 percent, DBS Group dipped 0.68 percent, United Overseas Bank eased 0.48 percent, SembCorp Marine advanced 0.72 percent and SingTel tumbled 1.62 percent.
The lead from Wall Street is cautiously optimistic as stocks opened sharply higher and then remained in the green on Thursday, recovering from the sell-off in the previous sessions.
The Dow crept up 33.20 points or 0.2 percent to 17,548.62, while the NASDAQ rose 12.64 points or 0.3 percent to 4,922.40 and the S&P 500 edged up 4.63 points or 0.2 percent to 2,051.31.
The initial strength followed a substantial rebound by Chinese stocks with the Shanghai Composite Index surging 5.8 percent as authorities unveiled fresh support measures.
Early buying interest was also generated by optimism about a deal between Greece and its creditors after the debt-laden nation promised to implement pension and tax reforms to win fresh aid.
However, the positive sentiment was tempered by news that the International Monetary Fund lowered its forecast for global economic growth in 2015.
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May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.