Up to 2.3 million shares exchanged hands.

Gainers outweighed losers 403 to 286.

Despite the positive mood in recent days, Westcomb Securities said investors should be cautious given weakness in the US economy.

'With weak private consumption and investment, the first-quarter GDP (gross domestic product) number in the United States has a very high chance to be negative,' Westcomb said.

The health of the world's biggest economy is closely watched because it is a major buyer of global exports.

Banking shares slumped, with DBS Group losing 20 cents to 19.70 dollars, United Overseas Bank down 22 cents at 20.48 dollars and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp down five cents at 8.63 dollars.

Property shares were mixed, with CapitaLand gaining two cents to 6.95 dollars, City Developments rising 14 cents to 12.54 dollars and Keppel Land down two cents at 6.08 dollars.

Singapore Airlines fell four cents to 15.42 dollars and Singapore Telecommunications finished five cents lower at 3.79 dollars. -- AFP