SGX drops as North Korea tensions escalate

Singapore stocks fell on Friday, tracking weak Asian shares, after North Korea fired another missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean.

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SGX Logo. Reuters

Singapore stocks fell on Friday, tracking weak Asian shares, after North Korea fired another missile over Japan into the Pacific Ocean.

U.S. stock futures and Asian shares dipped as North Korea's latest missile launch caused a mild flutter among investors.

Pyongyang's missile flew over Japan's northern Hokkaido, further escalating tensions following North Korea's test of its most powerful nuclear bomb yet.

The missile launch came just days after the United Nations Security Council imposed new sanctions against North Korea over the nuclear test on September 3.

The Straits Times Index lost 0.35 percent or 11 points to 3,209. It ended 0.29 percent lower on Thursday, taking the year-to-date performance to about 12 percent.

Among the lenders, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp fell 0.2 percent , DBS Group Holdings lost 0.8 percent and United Overseas Bank declined 0.4 percent.

Keppel Telecommunications & Transportation said it invested US$10 million in data centre startup Nautilus Data Technologies Inc. The stock fell 1 percent.

Telecom major Singtel launched Singapore's first mobile plans with unlimited local data, talktime and messaging services. Its shares closed unchanged at S$3.67.

Property developer Oxley Holdings gained about 1 percent. The company said the issued and paid-up capital of its joint venture company Oxley Serangoon Pte has been increased from S$100 to S$4 million.

About 2 billion shares worth S$1.7 billion changed hands, with losers outnumbering gainers 212 to 174.

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