SINGAPORE (Nov 26): Singapore stocks may get off to a slow start following a flat session overnight in the US, where data showing American consumer sentiment at a five-month low weighed on investor sentiment.
The US Conference Board’s consumer confidence index fell to 88.7 in November from 94.1 a month earlier.
The news overshadowed fresh official data that showed the world's largest economy grew at an annualised rate of 3.9% in 3Q2014, better than an initial reading of 3.5%.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was little changed at 17,814.94, the S&P 500 slipped 0.1% to 2,067.03 and the Nasdaq Composite inched up 0.1% to 4,758.25.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index closed 0.1% higher at 3,344.99 yesterday.
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS:
IHH Healthcare's 3Q2014 earnings rose 26% y-o-y to MYR146.9 million ($57 million) on higher revenue, which increased 7% to MYR1.78 billion, and lower finance costs.
IHH shares fell 0.8% to $1.89 yesterday.
Zhongmin Baihui Retail Group has secured the use of certain retail premises at Xianyou county in Fujian city. It will use the space to operate a department store for a period of 15 years from 1H2015.
Zhongmin Baihui shares rose 0.5% to $1.85 yesterday.
Cityspring Infrastructure Trust, which is in the midst of a merger with Keppel Infrastructure Trust, will refinance all its outstanding bonds related to its acquisition of Basslink in Australia.
Cityspring has A$486 million ($539 million) worth of bonds due in August 2015, A$48.8 million inflation-indexed bonds due in August 2017 and A$232 million inflation-indexed bonds due in August 2019.
The bonds will be refinanced with a A$717-million five-year senior, secured loan facility provided by a group of nine banks.
Cityspring shares ended flat at 53.5 cents yesterday.