STI +1.1% at 3177.83, in broad market advance with 2.5 gainers for every decliner, decent 486 million shares worth $596 million traded so far. Gains come despite expectations for cautious, rangebound trade ahead of FOMC meeting, U.S. mid-terms; along with Friday’s 0.4% rise, index now recoups all of Wednesday’s steep 1.2% correction; “the local market is tracking the regional markets higher, especially Shanghai (+1.0%), and retracing the correction last week, but (for further upside) much depends on the FOMC,” says trading representative at local house. 

Thomson Medical Centre (5FV.SG) top traded, rises 61% to $1.74, just below $1.75 level of Peter Lim’s mandatory offer for rest of shares he doesn’t already own. 

 

STI component SMRT Corp. (S53.SG) down 1.0% at $2.03 after 2Q results late Friday point to challenging times ahead with continued Circle Line losses; but buoying index, Golden Agri-Resources (E5H.SG) +4.6% at $0.680, Genting Singapore (G13.SG) +1.8% at $2.21. Index now back within sight of 3200, where many analysts expect strong resistance.