Daily Markets Briefing: STI up 0.49%

Get ready for some boosts today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 16.02 points or 0.49% higher to 3319.11, taking the year-to-date performance to +15.22%.

The top active stocks were Keppel Corp, which gained 4.12%, Singtel, which gained 0.54%, CityDev, which gained 3.69%, OCBC Bank, which gained 0.26% and CapitaLand, with a 1.36% advance.

The FTSE ST Mid Cap Index gained 0.72%, whilst the FTSE ST Small Cap Index rose 0.38%.

According to OCBC Investment Research, US equity benchmarks finished the session and the week slightly higher on Friday, and the Nasdaq recorded an all-time high, as President Donald Trump delivered a speech decertifying a nuclear agreement with Iran.

Five out of 11 S&P 500 industries finished higher, led by Information Technology, which gained 0.52%, and Materials, which rose 0.48%, whilst Utilities dropped -0.76% and led the declines. The index was up 0.15% for the week.

"The gains on Wall Street Friday and a weaker than expected inflation report in the U.S. could provide a modest boost to the local bourse today," OCBC said.