Singapore shares decline at Wednesday’s close; STI retreats 0.4%

Singapore shares closed lower on Wednesday (Jan 15), as investors worldwide await key inflation data in the US that will set interest rate expectations.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) ended down 0.4 per cent or 16.19 points at 3,772.58.

The index was led by integrated resort operator Genting Singapore, which added 2 per cent or S$0.015 to close at S$0.75.

The STI constituent Yangzijiang Shipbuilding reversed Tuesday’s gains as it slid 3.6 per cent or S$0.11 to S$2.96.

The three local banks were a sea of red. DBS decreased 0.9 per cent or S$0.40 to S$43.50, while UOB fell 1.1 per cent or S$0.39 to S$36.58. OCBC inched 0.3 per cent or S$0.05 lower to S$16.87.

Across the broader market, gainers outnumbered losers 241 to 217, as 875.2 million securities worth S$1.1 billion changed hands.

Outside the index, CapitaLand India Trust (Clint) announced on Wednesday that it has signed a long-term agreement with a leading global hyperscaler for one of its data centres under development, as it prepares to meet fast-growing demand for data centre capacity in India.

Its units closed down 0.9 per cent or S$0.01 at S$1.05.

DBS Group Research said the gradual lease up of Clint’s gross power within its data centres will be “a shot in the arm for Clint to realise its value”.

“We see brighter prospects of a partial stake sale of data centres to partners… which will significantly unlock value for the Reit and right-size its overall capex commitments towards completing these data centres.”

Meanwhile, cord-blood bank Cordlife Group’s shares surged 9.7 per cent or S$0.014 to S$0.159 on news that the company’s operation licences were renewed for a year.

Outside Singapore, key indices were mixed. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index lifted 0.3 per cent, while South Korea’s Kospi Composite Index ended almost flat. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.08 per cent. The Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite index lost 0.9 per cent.