Singapore stocks gain along with Asian peers; AEM Holdings jumps 13%

Singapore stocks gained on Monday, tracking gains in other Asian equities after U.S. inflation data underpinned optimism that the global growth is continuing at a steady pace.

singapore trader
An office worker walks past a logo of the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) outside its premises in the financial district of Singapore. REUTERS

Singapore stocks gained on Monday, tracking gains in other Asian equities after U.S. inflation data underpinned optimism that the global growth is continuing at a steady pace.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained for a fifth day running to its highest level since late 2007.

Underlying inflation in the United States was muted at 0.2 percent in August, data showed on Friday.

The Straits Times Index rose 0.12 percent or 4 points to 3,323. It ended 0.5 percent higher on Friday, taking the year-to-date performance to about 15 percent.

Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp was up 0.3 percent, DBS Group Holdings rose 0.1 percent but United Overseas Bank fell 0.6 percent.

Shares in AEM Holdings, a maker of precision engineering equipment, jumped as much as 13 percent after it raised its nine months and full-year earnings outlook, citing higher sales, better profit margin, and better operational efficiency.

QT Vascular, a provider of advanced therapeutic solutions, climbed 9 percent after saying it had received "indications of interest" in relation to a potential transaction relating its assets.

Moya Holdings Asia, which designs and builds water treatment systems, on Monday said that the Indonesian Supreme Court dismissed a class action lawsuit against a unit of Moya's recent acquisition, Acuatico. Its shares lost about 6 percent.

About 1.7 billion shares worth S$1.1 billion changed hands, with gainers outnumbering losers 252 to 206.

READ MORE