Singapore shares started the week positively, tracking broader regional gains amid renewed optimism over a potential US interest rate cut.
The Straits Times Index (STI), a key benchmark for the Singapore Exchange, ranged between 4,459.83 and 4,504.48 throughout the day. It ended the session at 4,496.63, up 27.49 points or 0.6% compared to Friday's close.
In economic news, Singapore's MAS core inflation, which excludes the cost of accommodation and private transport, rose 1.2% year on year in October, compared with 0.4% in September, according to a joint announcement by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
In corporate news, shares of BRC Asia (SGX:BEC) rose nearly 2% at the close with the company's attributable profit to owners in fiscal half ended Sept.30 declining by 5% to SG$52.2million from SG$55.0 million a year earlier.
Marco Polo Marine (SGX:5LY) shares were up nearly 3% with the company expecting to post "a significantly higher" net profit after tax for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, GDS Global (SGX:5VP) closed over 4% higher, as it booked an attributable profit of SG$51,000 in the fiscal second half ended Sept. 30, from an attributable loss of SG$1.4 million a year earlier.