SINGAPORE shares closed 2.43 per cent up on Friday, but caution remained as weak company earnings and job cuts by banking giant DBS Group underlined the impact of a slowing economy, analysts said.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) rose 44.29 points to 1,863.49.

Around 1.5 billion shares exchanged hands.

Gainers beat losers 287 to 181.