Daily Markets Briefing: STI down 0.24%

Investors could be cautious today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 7.88 points or 0.24% lower to 3218.07, taking the year-to-date performance to +11.71%.

The top active stocks today were DBS, which gained 0.54%, UOB, which declined 0.13%, Rowsley, which declined 2.24%, Singtel, which gained 0.54% and ComfortDelGro, with a 1.24% fall.

The FTSE ST Mid Cap Index gained 0.02%, while the FTSE ST Small Cap Index rose 0.12%.

According to OCBC Investment Research, US stock benchmarks ended a volatile session mostly in the green, with the Dow industrials and the S&P 500 carving out fresh all-time highs, as the Federal Reserve announced that, for the first time in nine years, it would start reducing the size of its $4.5 trillion asset portfolio commencing in October.

Seven out of eleven S&P 500 industries finished higher, led by Energy at 0.69% and Industrials at 0.66%, whilst Consumer Staples at -0.89% and Utilities at -0.78% led the losses.

"The mixed performances on Wall Street overnight could keep investors cautious today, limiting any upside," OCBC said.