Singapore shares started the week marginally higher, finishing in the green zone on Monday, despite mixed regional movements as investors awaited the release of key US data that could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to cut down interest rate.
The Straits Times Index (STI), a key benchmark for the Singapore Exchange, ranged between 4,524.47 and 4,544.57 throughout the day. It ended the session at 4,526.22, up 2.26 points or 0.1% compared to Friday's close.
Hong Leong Asia up nearly 3%; HPH Trust USD, JMH USD, CMS, AvePoint up over 2%; Golden Agri-Res, Thomson Medical up nearly 2%; Genting Sing down over 1%; YZJ Shipbldg, Centurion, PropNex down over 2%.
In company news, shares of Low Keng Huat (SGX:F1E) were up over 16% at the close as controlling shareholder, Consistent Record, launched a general offer to acquire all shares of the company not already owned or controlled by the offeror.
MetaOptics (SGX:9MT) was up nearly 17% with the company targeting to raise around SG$4.9 million through the placement of around 6.7 million shares at SG$0.7255 per share.
Meanwhile, shares of Centurion (SGX:OU8) were down over 2% after it acquired a 25% stake in a 472-bed purpose-built student accommodation project in Perth in Western Australia, for AU$6 million.