Daily Markets Briefing: STI up 0.36%

Expect muted gains today.

The Straits Times Index (STI) ended 11.82 points or 0.36% higher at 3256.71, taking the year-to-date performance to -4.30%.

The top active stocks today were DBS, which declined 1.18%, Singtel, which grew 2.93%, Venture, which slipped1.89%, UOB, which dipped 0.22% and Genting Sing, which a closed unchanged.

The FTSE ST Mid Cap Index gained 0.33%, whilst the FTSE ST Small Cap Index rose 0.19%.

OCBC Investment Research noted that US stocks closed solidly higher, with major indexes advancing in a broad rally that was led by the technology sector, which enjoyed its best session in more than a month.

Ten out of eleven S&P 500 industries ended higher, led by Information Technology (1.47%) and Consumer Staples (1.44%) whilst Energy (-0.16%) bucked the trend.

"Despite the gains on Wall Street overnight, we expect the local bourse to tread cautiously today in face of the tariff imposition which is set to take effect at midnight Friday in Washington," OCBC Investment Research said.