SGX Today: STI Technical Analysis Outlook

STI MARKET REVIEW :

Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) opened 9.95 points or 0.33 per cent lower at 3,042.58 on Wednesday, following a retreat of shares on Wall Street overnight and ended 12.0 points or 0.39% lower to 3040.50. STI came off from its intra-day peak of 3055.81 and low of 3035.76.

Singapore stocks inched lower mid day, as investors awaited a rate-setting decision by the US Federal Reserve. Singapore's dollar will weaken about 2% versus the greenback by the end of the year after the city-state's central bank "slightly" reduced the pace of the currency's gains versus those of its trading partners this month.

LOCAL BOURSE

Singapore is likely to remain "perilously" close to a technical recession in the coming months, citing a slowdown in consumer demand and weak sentiment.
Singapore "narrowly averted" a technical recession in the third quarter, which economists commonly define as two consecutive quarters of decline in gross domestic product.
The revised reading of the third quarter GDP data may even change the scenario to a technical recession.

MARKET FORECAST

STI is expected to consolidate within the range of 3060 - 3025. It has broken its support of 3040 today. It has its next support at 3025 and resistance at 3060. Investors are cautious over the decision to be take in FED meeting to increase the US interest rate this year.

STI COUNTER SPECIFIC NEWS

• Biosensors International Group said on Wednesday it has received an offer from Citic Private Equity Funds Management Co for the proposed amalgamation of the group with its substantial shareholder, CB Medical Holdings.
• Singapore Post has appointed Japan's Shimizu Corporation as the main contractor to undertake the redevelopment and office works at its flagship SingPost Centre for about S$150 million.
• Capitaland Commercial Trust (CCT) on Wednesday reported a 2.4 per cent rise in distribution per unit (DPU) to 2.14 Singapore cents for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2015, on the back of higher rents.
• OLAM International said on Wednesday it has secured a revolving credit and term-loan facility amounting to US$1 billion, which it will use to refinance debt as well as meet its working capital and general corporate funding needs.

GLOBAL FACTORS AND WORLD INDICES:

• European shares edged higher in early deals on Wednesday, buoyed by a fresh batch of company earnings reports ahead of a Federal Reserve policy decision later in the day.
• Hong Kong shares fell on Wednesday, following mainland China shares lower after a bout of late afternoon profit taking. Hang Seng index ended down 0.8 percent at 22,956.57 points, while the China Enterprises Index lost 1.5 percent to 10,558.47.
• China stocks fell on Wednesday, with a late afternoon bout of profit taking pushing major indexes deep into the red. "The fall today remained propelled by profit-taking after the gains in recent weeks," said Xiao Shijun, an analyst at Guodu Securities in Beijing. "With lots of reforms in the pipeline and official economy-boosting steps taken, the market will remain in a rebounding track in the medium term despite short-term volatility."
• Tokyo stocks ended 0.67 per cent higher on Wednesday as Japan's latest earnings season gets into full swing and investors await the outcome of a Federal Reserve policy meeting.
• South Korean shares edged down on Wednesday as investors adopted a wait-and-see stance ahead of the US Federal Reserve policy decision later in the day. Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) ended down 0.1 per cent at 2,042.51 points.
• Australian shares recouped early losses on Wednesday after surprisingly subdued inflation reinforced speculation of more monetary easing and lower bond yields, making stocks a more palatable asset.
• Asian stocks mixed, dollar strengthened against the euro and Australian dollar as traders wait on Federal Reserve commentary.
• Oil prices barely moved in Asia Wednesday as investors waited for a report on US crude inventories and the conclusion of a Federal Reserve policy meeting hoping for an idea about its plans for interest rates.