Singapore stocks fell for a second session on Friday, dragged lower by lenders such as United Overseas Bank after Singapore's smallest listed bank reported new nonperforming assets in the third quarter.
Asian shares were mixed as investors assessed the latest news on U.S. tax-cut plans and looked ahead to Friday's American jobs report.
Apple suppliers gained in Asian trading after its forecast for holiday sales topped estimates, a likely positive for its many suppliers scattered across Asia.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan inched up 0.15 percent, to be just a whisker from its highest since late 2007. With Japan closed for a holiday, there may be little direction in Asian trading.
At 0400 GMT, the Straits Times Index shed 0.38 percent or 31 points to 3,367. It ended 0.33 percent lower on Thursday, taking the year-to-date performance to about 17 percent.
Overseas-Chinese Banking Corp lost 0.2 percent, United Overseas Bank dropped 0.5 percent and DBS Group Holdings fell 0.7 percent.
Utility services provider Sembcorp Industries slumped 3.2 percent after its net profit fell 37.7 percent in the third-quarter, hurt by weak performance of its marine business and higher finance costs.
Singapore's smallest listed lender United Overseas Bank lost 0.5 percent after an increase in bad loans overshadowed quarterly upbeat net profit.
Media content provider mm2 Asia said net profit more-than-doubled in the second quarter, boosted by growth at its events production and concert promotion business. However, its shares lost about 2 percent.
But Manulife U.S. Real Estate Investment Trust gained 1.1 percent after it reported a better-than-expected quarterly distribution per share (DPU), powered by higher net property income and lower interest costs.
About 1.2 billion shares worth S$434 million changed hands, with losers outnumbering gainers 179 to 154.
