SINGAPORE - The Straits Times Index (STI) added 7.76 points or 0.24 per cent on Friday to close at 3,305.05

Some 1.53 billion shares worth $897.8 million traded hands.

It was the third straight session of gains on the STI after a disappointing start to the week when the benchmark index lost 72.93 points or more than 2 per cent.

For the week, the STI was down by 40.5 points or 1.2 per cent.

Three factors - continued positive sentiment from the United States Federal Reserve's pledge to keep interest rates low, Scotland's rejection of independence in a referendum and anticipation about a record offering by Alibaba in New York - kept stocks afloat.

Other Asian markets also saw good gains on Friday.

Tokyo climbed 1.58 per cent, Sydney added 0.32 per cent, Seoul gained 0.3 per cent, Shanghai rose 0.58 per cent while Hong Kong was up 0.57 per cent