Soft Start Anticipated For Singapore Stock Market

### Singapore Stock Market Outlook

The Singapore stock market has experienced gains for the past two sessions, accumulating nearly 25 points or 0.6 percent. The Straits Times Index (STI) currently hovers just below the 3,315-point mark but might face some pressure when trading resumes on Monday.

#### Global Market Forecast

The outlook for Asian markets remains uncertain, with profit-taking expected to limit any potential gains. European markets have shown softness, while U.S. exchanges ended mixed and relatively unchanged, suggesting that Asian markets might see a moderate response.

#### Performance Recap

On Friday, the STI edged slightly higher, buoyed by financial sector gains despite mixed results from property and industrial stocks. The index finished the day up by 8.49 points, or 0.26 percent, to close at 3,313.48, after fluctuating between a low of 3,292.13 and the daily high.

#### Activity Highlights

- **CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust:** Fell by 1.01%

- **CapitaLand Investment:** Rose by 0.38%

- **City Developments:** Decreased by 1.53%

- **ComfortDelGro:** Dropped by 0.71%

- **DBS Group:** Increased by 0.42%

- **Genting Singapore:** Declined by 0.55%

- **Hongkong Land:** Gained 0.29%

- **Keppel DC REIT:** Rose by 0.56%

- **Keppel Ltd:** Advanced by 0.45%

- **Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust:** Fell by 1.57%

- **Mapletree Industrial Trust and Frasers Centrepoint:** Both lost 0.45%

- **Mapletree Logistics Trust:** Climbed by 0.74%

- **Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation:** Rallied by 0.98%

- **SATS:** Declined by 1.16%

- **Seatrium Limited:** Plunged by 2.48%

- **SembCorp Industries:** Improved by 0.57%

- **SingTel:** Fell by 0.41%

- **Yangzijiang Financial:** Jumped by 1.56%

- **Yangzijiang Shipbuilding:** Slumped by 1.13%

- **Emperador, Thai Beverage, Wilmar International, and Singapore Technologies Engineering:** Unchanged

#### Wall Street Influence

Wall Street provided little guidance, with the major indices opening mixed and closing in similar fashion.

- **Dow Jones Industrial Average:** Rose by 134.19 points or 0.34%, reaching a new record of 40,003.59.

- **NASDAQ:** Fell by 12.33 points or 0.07% to 16,685.97.

- **S&P 500:** Increased by 6.17 points or 0.12% to 5,303.27.

For the week, the NASDAQ surged by 2.1%, the S&P 500 rose by 1.5%, and the Dow advanced by 1.2%.

#### Market Sentiment

Trading on Wall Street was choppy, as traders appeared hesitant to make substantial moves following recent market strength that propelled the major indices to new record highs.

#### Economic Indicators

The Conference Board reported a continued decline in its leading U.S. economic indicators for April, suggesting economic uncertainties.

#### Oil Market Performance

Oil prices increased on Friday due to easing inflation, reduced inventories, and anticipation of interest rate cuts. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures for June settled at $80.06 a barrel, up by $0.79 or over 1 percent. For the week, WTI crude futures gained 2.3 percent.

This overview encapsulates the key factors influencing the Singapore stock market, underlining recent performances and projecting potential movements based on global market trends and economic indicators.