Singapore shares fall as investors count down to end of US stimulus

SINGAPORE - Local shares dipped 14.46 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 3,211.65, as investors nervously awaited a United States Federal Reserve decision on its bond-buying programme.

The Fed, which meets on Tuesday, is set to announce whether it will really put an end to its US$15 billion monthly stimulus programme as planned, or extend it in light of recent mixed data on the US economy.

Most other Asian bourses, however, ended in positive territory as investors hoped for the best.

Mr Stan Shamu, a Melbourne-based market strategist at IG, told Bloomberg: "Some analysts feel the Fed will play it safe at this meeting and wait until December for any surprises, as that meeting will contain updated forecasts."

Some 1.16 billion shares worth $951.6 million changed hands at home.

There were 133 gainers, versus 225 losers.

Catalist-listed International Healthway Corporation was the top active, staying flat at 27 cents on a turnover of 65.3 million shares.

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