<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p>[SINGAPORE] Singapore blue chips closed lower on Thursday (Apr 23) as Brent crude oil breached US$100 a barrel amid persistent tensions in the Middle East.</p><p>The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) lost 1.2 per cent or 58.61 points to finish at 4,944.11. </p><p> Thai Beverage  led the gainers on Singapore’s blue-chip index, rising 3.7 per cent or S$0.015 to S$0.425. It was one of the four STI stocks that managed to eke out an increase.</p><p>The worst performer was  Hongkong Land , which fell 4 per cent or US$0.32 to close at US$7.60.</p><p>The local banks all ended lower.  DBS  edged down 0.4 per cent or S$0.20 to S$57,  OCBC  dropped 3.5 per cent or S$0.79 to S$21.80 as it went ex-dividend, and  UOB  slid 0.3 per cent or S$0.12 to S$36.90.  </p><p>Within the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index,  Olam Group  was the top gainer, rising 6.7 per cent or S$0.065 to finish at S$1.04, while  Hong Leong Asia  was the biggest loser, falling 4.4 per cent or S$0.15 to end the session at S$3.25.</p><div><div><h3>Navigate Asia in<br/>a new global order</h3><p>Get the insights delivered to your inbox.</p></div></div><p>Across the broader market, losers beat gainers 389 to 226, with 1.8 billion securities worth S$2.3 billion changed hands.</p><p>Key regional indices were mainly down. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index lost 1 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 0.8 per cent. However, South Korea’s Kospi was up 0.9 per cent.</p><p>Vishnu Varathan, head of macro strategy for Asia Pacific at Mizuho Securities (Singapore), noted that as flares of tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz – with both US and Iran seizing or attacking vessels – Brent is pushed back above S$100 per barrel and risk appetite likely checked at the margin.</p><div><div><div><p>SEE ALSO</p><div><div><div><div><p><img height="4131" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/6751e83a35a138a3e71c26cee45265d9fbb8b43949ecd7af0d9e431b3fb5d94b/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="6197" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/6751e83a35a138a3e71c26cee45265d9fbb8b43949ecd7af0d9e431b3fb5d94b/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw"/></p></div><p></p><h3><span>Robinhood gets Singapore regulators’ nod for brokerage offerings</span></h3><p></p></div></div><div><div><div><p><img height="1063" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/0417a7fb40a7d14750f1f87b10e24a373758e2962f77539ee2fbef80084f2de2/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="1600" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/0417a7fb40a7d14750f1f87b10e24a373758e2962f77539ee2fbef80084f2de2/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw"/></p></div><p></p><h3><span>Australian shares close at two-week low on oil price concerns</span></h3><p></p></div></div><div><div><div><p><img height="2060" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/d488dbd0ec628a589ac098a991df1a0d24c65a53ea7208af5d4680f109acd3f9/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="3091" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/businesstimes/d488dbd0ec628a589ac098a991df1a0d24c65a53ea7208af5d4680f109acd3f9/query-ZHByPTEmZj13ZWJwJnc9MjQw"/></p></div><p></p><h3><span>Asian shares pull back from record highs as oil gains on Iran war risk</span></h3><p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>The US military had intercepted several Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters recently, reigniting concerns that the Middle East conflict could be prolonged.</p><div><p>Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. <span>Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter.</span> Delivered to your inbox. Free.</p></div></div></div>

<p>Singapore's Straits Times Index (STI) fell 1.2% to 4,944.11 as Brent crude oil surpassed US$100 amid ongoing Middle East tensions. Thai Beverage was the top gainer, up 3.7%, while Hongkong Land dropped 4%. Local banks also declined, with DBS down 0.4%, OCBC down 3.5%, and UOB down 0.3%. Overall, market losers outnumbered gainers 389 to 226, with 1.8 billion securities traded. Regional indices were mostly down, except for South Korea's Kospi, which rose 0.9%.</p>

STI slides 1.2% as Brent price rises above US$100