Daily Markets Briefing: STI down 0.04%

Don't expect any boost today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 1.23 points or 0.04% lower to 3329.52 on Monday, taking the year-to-date performance to +15.58%.

The top active stocks yesterday were Singtel, which declined 0.75%; DBS, which declined 0.28%; OCBC Bank, which declined 0.26%; UOB, which declined 0.25%; and CapitaLand Mall Trust, with a 0.99% fall.

OCBC Investment Research said this came as the Dow industrials finished at an all-time high on Monday, but the broader market’s gains were hobbled by losses in the technology sector.

Meanwhile, seven out of eleven S&P 500 industries ended lower, with Materials (-0.79%) and Information Technology (-0.53%) leading the declines while Financials (0.62%) led the gains.

"The mixed performances on Wall Street overnight are unlikely to provide much of a boost to the local bourse today," the brokerage firm said.