Singapore shares edged lower on Monday, hurt by a decline in DBS Group shares after the lender flagged worries over asset quality.
At 0550 GMT, the Straits Times Index lost 0.1 percent or 4 points to 3,323. It ended 0.49 percent lower on Friday, taking the year-to-date gains to about 15 percent.
Index heavyweight DBS fell 1.4 percent after the lender on Friday said asset quality pressures will continue and the risk of heightened credit costs in the oil and gas support services sector will persist with low oil prices.
Commodity trader Noble Group said it does not want to comment further on allegations hurled by Iceberg Research, having "already commented extensively" on them. The stock was unchanged.
Among the gainers, shares in World Class Global jumped 4 percent after it reported a smaller loss in the first-half, helped by foreign exchange gains.
Stratech Group said it has "had preliminary discussions with certain parties" to monetize its intellectual properties and seek investments in the group. Trading in Stratech Group shares were suspended.
About 988 million shares worth S$546 million changed hands, with losers outnumbering gainers 213 to 171.
Meanwhile, stocks in Asia gained, taking their cue from Wall Street after a better-than-expected U.S. jobs report.
The Labor Department's closely watched employment report showed on Friday that U.S. nonfarm payrolls rose by 209,000 jobs last month, and June's employment gain was revised higher.
