Monday, September 29, 2008

China stocks in Singapore close slightly higher; key data holds down shares

China stocks in Singapore ended the day slightly higher as new economic data out of the mainland held down shares with monetary tightening fears mounting, dealers said.

The FTSE ST China Index rose 2.38 points or 0.5 pct to 451.91 points, according to preliminary closing figures. Gainers outnumbered losers 18 to 17 with 15 unchanged.

The broader Straits Times Index rose 1 pct or 31.0 points to close at 3,087.49

China said today its economy grew 10.6 pct from a year earlier in the three months to March, slower than the 11.9 pct growth in 2007.

And inflation remained high with the consumer price index hitting 8.0 pct for the first quarter, driven by a 21 pct rise in food prices. March inflation stood at 8.3 pct, down from 8.7 pct in February but well above the government's full-year target. Many analysts had been expecting the high figures.

A mainland official said today the government's top priority will be to control prices, raising the possibility of further monetary tightening measures.

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