Daily Markets Briefing: STI down 1.18%

Investors are urged to take caution today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 41.23 points or 1.18% lower to 3450.69, taking the year-to-date performance to +1.40%.

The top active stocks were DBS, which declined 1.61%, OCBC Bank, which declined 1.42%, Genting Sing, which declined 0.89%, UOB, which declined 2.09% and Singtel, with a 0.30% fall.

The FTSE ST Mid Cap Index declined 0.06%, whilst the FTSE ST Small Cap Index declined 0.29%.

OCBC Investment Research noted that the S&P 500 index and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed lower Wednesday as the resignation of top White House economic adviser Gary Cohn stoked fears of a trade war but the tech-laden Nasdaq bucked the trend to extend its winning streak to a fourth session.

Eight out of 11 S&P 500 industries ended lower, with Consumer Staples (-0.93%) and Energy (-0.83%) leading the declines, whilst Information Technology (0.55%) and Real Estate (0.52%) led the gains.

"The mixed performances on Wall Street overnight could keep local sentiment cautious today," OCBC said.