Singapore stocks drop for second day as lenders lag

Singapore stocks fell for a second session on Wednesday, bucking strong Asian shares, hurt by losses in financials and energy shares.

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SGX Logo. Reuters

Singapore stocks fell for a second session on Wednesday, bucking strong Asian shares, hurt by losses in financials and energy shares.

Asian shares advanced, with the Chinese central bank's weekend move to free up more liquidity boosting sentiment.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.3 percent to extend three consecutive days of gains.

Equities have been underpinned by upbeat global data, including strong manufacturing activity across much of Asia, Europe and the United States, largely reflecting a broad export boom, Reuters reported.

At 0430 GMT, the Straits Times Index lost 0.2 percent or 7 points to 3,239. It ended 0.49 percent lower on Tuesday, taking the year-to-date performance to about 13 percent.

United Overseas Bank slipped 0.5 percent while Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp and DBS Group Holdings declined 0.2 percent each. Oil rig builder Keppel Corporation fell 0.4 percent.

Shares in the aircraft maintenance company SIA Engineering fell as much as 9 percent to S$3.15 amidst heavy trading.

Sembcorp Marine dropped about 1 percent said its unit PPL Shipyard terminated three contracts with Integradora de Servicios Petroleros Oro Negro and its unit Oro Negro for the construction of three jack-up rigs.

U.S. planemaker Boeing has rolled out the first 787-10 Dreamliner built for Singapore Airlines. Shares of the airliner were down 0.2 percent.

About 1.1 billion shares worth S$482 million changed hands, with losers outnumbering gainers 164 to 160.

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