Singapore Stocks Edge Down as Middle East Tensions Offset Upbeat Retail Data
Singapore shares incurred losses on Tuesday, mirroring regional losses as investors responded negatively to the possibility of the US and Iran returning to hostilities amid a fragile ceasefire.The Straits Times Index (STI), a key benchmark for the Singapore Exchange, ranged between 4,891.83 and 4,920.61 throughout the day. It ended the session at 4,920.61, down 3.70 points or 0.1% compared to Monday's close.In economic news, Singapore's total retail sales rose 4.8% year on year in March, following the 8.3% growth in the preceding month, according to data released by the Department of Statistics Singapore.On the corporate front, shares of UltraGreen.ai (SGX:ULG) dropped over 7% at the close as its total vial shipment fell 8.7% during the first quarter of the year to 280,900 vials from 307,600 vials a year earlier.Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp. or OCBC (SGX:O39) were hardly moved at the close, as it agreed to acquire the retail and wealth management business of HSBC's (HKG:0005) Indonesian arm.Meanwhile, shares of United Overseas Insurance (SGX:U13) were down under 1% as its insurance revenue dropped to SG$24.9 million in the first quarter of the year from SG$27.3 million a year earlier.