Daily Markets Briefing: STI up 0.27%

Don't expect gains today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 8.96 or 0.27% higher at 3362.43.

The top active stocks were DBS, which dipped 0.18%, YZJ Shipbldg SGD, which crased 2.52%, UOB, which went up 0.48%, OCBC Bank, which grew 0.09%, and Singtel, which remained unchanged.

According to OCBC Investment Research (OIR), US stocks closed lower Wednesday, a day after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq carved out their first records in months, following earnings from high-profile companies, including Dow components Boeing Co. and Caterpillar Inc., that offered a mixed picture of American corporations.

Eight out of eleven S&P 500 industries ended lower, led by Energy (-1.85%) and Communication Services (-0.75%) whilst Real Estate (0.77%) led the gains.

"The weakness on Wall Street overnight could send a cautious tone today, as investors assess corporate earnings," OIR said.