Singapore stocks end lower on Thursday

Share prices on the Singapore bourse fell following the Federal Reserve's decision to cut its stimulus programme further.

The benchmark Straits Times Index ended the day lower by 20.71 points or 0.7 per cent to 3,027.22. The local market closed early for the Chinese New Year holidays.

The Hang Seng in Hong Kong, which also shut early for the lunar holiday, slipped 0.5 per cent.

On the home front, some 1.6 billion shares worth $968.4 million were done. Losers outpaced gainers 219 to 122 while 446 counters were unchanged.

"The markets are no doubt digesting the Fed's policy in reducing their stimulus for another $10 billion to $65 billion," said Ms Kelly Teoh of Singapore's IG Markets.

"Without question, the market has not priced this in fully, despite the fact that the Fed's decision wasn't a surprise. There's a difference between anticipating an outcome and liking it," she said.

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