SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed slightly firmer after wavering between positive and negative territories in a shortened pre-holiday session.
Dealers said volume was thin as investors were unwilling to take on new positions ahead of the Christmas holiday break.
Uncertainty over the US fiscal cliff also kept players away.
The Straits Times Index (STI) rose 5.01 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 3168.57.
Volume totalled 1.09 billion shares valued at only S$430.8 million. Gainers led losers 195 to 134.
SingTel was the main drag on the STI, dropping 8 cents to S$3.32 as the stock went ex-dividend.
Rowsley was the most active stock traded, with its price surging 11.9 cents to end at 26.5 cents, its highest since September 2007, after the investment-holding company said it planned to enter Malaysia's property segment.
Rowsley, controlled by Singaporean tycoon Peter Lim, plans to acquire RSP Architects and land in the Iskandar region, located in Johor, for S$581 million in all-stock deals.
If the deals go through, Rowsley plans a bonus issue of two free warrants for every share held, with an 18-cent a share exercise price.
Singapore Land gained 18 cents to S$7.58, SIA Engineering added 12 cents to S$4.42, while OCBC Bank edged up 5 cents to S$9.77.
Among the losers, Bukit Sembawang fell 19 cents to S$6.63, Osim lost 5.5 cents to $1.645, and UE dropped 5 cents to S$3.38.
Olam finished unchanged at S$1.555 after the commodity-trader said it acquired Seda Solubles' coffee business for US$52 million.
- CNA/al
S'pore shares end firmer in shortened pre-holiday session
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S'pore shares end firmer in shortened pre-holiday session
