Daily Markets Briefing: STI up 0.18%

Expect the market to remain muted today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 5.88 points or 0.18% higher to 3334.91, taking the year-to-date performance to +15.76%.

The top active stocks were DBS, which gained 0.88%, Singtel, which gained 0.54%, UOB, which gained 1.04%, OCBC Bank, which declined 0.52%, and CapitaLand, with a 0.81% advance.

The FTSE ST Mid Cap Index declined 0.31%, while the FTSE ST Small Cap Index rose 0.16%.

According to OCBC Investment Research, the S&P 500 and the Dow overcame selling pressure in a rebound near the closing bell, eking out records on Thursday as Wall Street marked the 30th anniversary of the 1987 crash.

Six out of 11 S&P 500 industries finished higher, led by Utilities, which gained 1.01%, and Health Care, which gained 0.61%, whilst Consumer Staples, which fell 0.61%, and Information Technology, which fell 0.35%, led the declines.

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