Berita Valas

The Singapore stock market has alternated between positive and negative finishes through the last eight trading days since the end of the two-day slide in which it had slipped more than a dozen points or 0.25 percent. The Straits Times Index now rests just above the 4,980-point plateau and it's expected to open in the green on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is cautiously optimistic, with energy and technology stocks expected to provide support. The European markets were down and the U.S. bourses were up and the Asian markets figure to follow the latter lead. The STI finished slightly lower on Monday as losses from the property stocks and industrial issues were tempered by support from the financial sector. For the day, the index dipped 5.24 points or 0.11 percent to finish at 4,984.17 after trading between 4,965.48 and 4,984.17. Among the actives, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust gained 0.43 percent, while City Developments sank 0.48 percent, DBS Group collected 0.30 percent, DFI Retail Group shed 0.47 percent, Genting Singapore skidded 0.73 percent, Hongkong Land tanked 2.10 percent, Keppel Ltd lost 0.41 percent, Mapletree Industrial Trust and Venture Corporation both improved 0.50 percent, Mapletree Logistics Trust advanced 0.84 percent, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation increased 0.49 percent, SATS stumbled 1.65 percent, Seatrium Limited contracted 0.81 percent, SembCorp Industries climbed 1.02 percent, Singapore Airlines declined 0.90 percent, Singapore Exchange tumbled 1.56 percent, Singapore Technologies Engineering slumped 0.79 percent, SingTel fell 0.20 percent, United Overseas Bank perked 0.08 percent, UOL Group dropped 0.50 percent, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding retreated 1.49 percent and Wilmar International, CapitaLand Ascendas REIT, CapitaLand Investment, Thai Beverage, Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust, Keppel DC REIT and Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust were unchanged.

The Malaysia stock market has alternated between positive and negative finishes through the last four trading days since the end of the four-day losing streak in which it had dropped more than 30 points or 2 percent. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index now sits just above the 1,680-point plateau and it's likely to remain rangebound again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is cautiously optimistic, with energy and technology stocks expected to provide support. The European markets were down and the U.S. bourses were up and the Asian markets figure to follow the latter lead. The KLCI finished modestly lower on Monday following losses from the financial shares and telecoms, while the plantations and industrials were mixed. For the day, the index shed 10.79 points or 0.64 percent to finish at 1,680.52 after trading between 1,675.64 and 1,685.52. Among the actives, 99 Speed Mart Retail plummeted 3.23 percent, while AMMB Holdings plunged 2.12 percent, Axiata dipped 0.45 percent, Celcomdigi shed 0.66 percent, CIMB Group stumbled 1.73 percent, Gamuda lost 0.50 percent, IHH Healthcare dropped 1.14 percent, IOI Corporation rose 0.47 percent, Kuala Lumpur Kepong and Sime Darby both fell 0.46 percent, Maybank retreated 1.61 percent, MISC jumped 1.20 percent, MRDIY tanked 1.90 percent, Nestle Malaysia perked 0.09 percent, Petronas Chemicals surged 3.44 percent, Petronas Dagangan rallied 2.40 percent, Petronas Gas climbed 1.10 percent, Press Metal added 0.63 percent, Public Bank sank 1.08 percent, QL Resources tumbled 1.81 percent, RHB Bank and Hong Leong Bank both tumbled 1.72 percent, SD Guthrie gained 0.50 percent, Sunway skidded 1.15 percent, Telekom Malaysia slumped 1.27 percent, Tenaga Nasional improved 0.71 percent, YTL Corporation declined 1.51 percent, YTL Power contracted 1.35 percent and Maxis and PPB Group were unchanged.

The Japan stock market has moved lower in two of three trading days since the end of the four-day winning streak in which it had tallied more than 3,800 points or 7.2 percent. The Nikkei finished just above the 56,500-point plateau although it may bounce higher again on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is cautiously optimistic, with energy and technology stocks expected to provide support. The European markets were down and the U.S. bourses were up and the Asian markets figure to follow the latter lead. The Nikkei finished modestly lower on Monday following losses from the automobile producers and mixed performances from the financial shares and technology stocks. For the day, the index sank 421.34 points or 0.74 percent to finish at 56,502.77 after trading between 56,232.78 and 56,765.72. Among the actives, Nissan Motor tumbled 2.53 percent, while Mazda Motor retreated 1.28 percent, Honda Motor declined 1.22 percent, Softbank Group fell 0.37 percent, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial collected 0.63 percent, Mizuho Financial sank 0.75 percent, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial improved 0.74 percent, Mitsubishi Electric perked 0.02 percent, Sony Group tanked 2.23 percent, Panasonic Holdings added 0.65 percent, Hitachi gained 0.79 percent and Toyota Motor was unchanged.

The South Korea stock market has finished lower in two of three trading days since the end of the four-day winning streak in which it had surged more than 640 points or 11.7 percent. The KOSPI now sits just beneath the 5,810-point plateau although it's expected to find renewed support on Tuesday. The global forecast for the Asian markets is cautiously optimistic, with energy and technology stocks expected to provide support. The European markets were down and the U.S. bourses were up and the Asian markets figure to follow the latter lead. The KOPSI finished modestly lower on Monday following losses from the technology stocks and industrial issues, while the financial sector came in mixed. For the day, the index slumped 50.25 points or 0.86 percent to finish at 5,808.62 after trading between 5,730.23 and 5,827.73. Volume was 1.07 trillion shares worth 21.1 trillion won. There were 524 decliners and 343 gainers. Among the actives, Shinhan Financial fell 0.41 percent, while KB Financial skidded 1.07 percent, Hana Financial collected 0.42 percent, Samsung Electronics tumbled 2.43 percent, Samsung SDI surrendered 2.10 percent, LG Electronics tanked 2.62 percent, SK Hynix climbed 1.27 percent, Naver retreated 1.49 percent, LG Chem plunged 4.49 percent, Lotte Chemical cratered 4.01 percent, SK Innovation sank 0.74 percent, POSCO Holdings contracted 2.44 percent, SK Telecom shed 0.54 percent, KEPCO plummeted 2.76 percent, Hyundai Mobis crashed 2.73 percent, Hyundai Motor stumbled 2.25 percent and Kia Motors slumped 1.07 percent.

Singapore will on Tuesday release preliminary Q1 figures for gross domestic product, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity.

After a weak start and a subsequent fall to lower levels, the Canadian market climbed higher on Monday, lifted by strong gains in technology and energy stocks. The early weakness was due to concerns about inflation and growth after oil prices soared following the collapse of U.S.-Iran peace talks over the weekend.