Singapore stocks end week on negative note as banks fall

Singapore shares fell for a second session on Friday, with financials such as United Overseas Bank and DBS Group accounting for most of the losses.

SGX
An electric display chart showing the afternoon trading trend of the blue chip Hang Seng Index is seen through a camera at a brokerage in Hong Kong, China. REUTERS

Singapore shares fell for a second session on Friday, with financials such as United Overseas Bank and DBS Group accounting for most of the losses.

Asian shares edged lower, tracking Wall Street overnight amidst concerns about the progress of U.S. tax reform.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.5 percent, but poised to gain 0.7 percent for the week.

The Straits Times Index lost 0.55 percent or 19 points to 3,416. It ended 0.95 percent lower on Thursday, taking the year-to-date performance to about 19 percent.

Shares of United Overseas Bank were down 1.2 percent, Oversea-Chinese Banking fell 0.3 percent while DBS Group Holdings declined 1.3 percent.

Real estate developer Oxley Holdings said its unit won the tender for the purchase of Vista Park in South Buona Vista Road at S$418 million. Shares in Oxley Holdings closed down 0.8 percent.

But embattled commodities trader Noble Group jumped 7 percent amidst report company expects to soon receive a proposal from creditors on its debt restructuring.

Shares in TMC Education jumped as much as 100 percent to seven Singapore cents on Friday after the trading resumed. The rally comes following news of a takeover bid by Singapore property tycoon Koh Wee Meng.

About 1.5 billion shares worth S$1.3 billion changed hands, with losers outnumbering gainers 209 to 173.

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