Singapore Shares Gain More Than 1% as AI Boom Extends; MetaOptics Soars 11%
Singapore shares extended gains on Wednesday, soaring more than 1% at the close, despite mixed results across the region as chipmakers influencing investor sentiment.The Straits Times Index (STI), a key benchmark for the Singapore Exchange, ranged between 5,483.04 and 5,595.42 throughout the day. It ended the session at 5,595.42, up 68.70 points or 1.2% compared to Tuesday's close.On the corporate front, shares of MetaOptics (SGX:9MT) surged over 11% at the close as it agreed to deploy its metalens direct laser writer system at the University of Arizona's Center of Semiconductor Manufacturing.First Sponsor (SGX:ADN) expects to recognize an impairment charge of roughly SG$36.7 million in its first-half financial statements following an adverse ruling by a court in Dongguan, China.Meanwhile, Lonza's (SGX:O6Z) attributable profit to equity holders during the first half of the year rose to 591 million Swiss francs from 426 million francs a year earlier.
