SINGAPORE, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Singapore shares closed 0.22 percent higher on Tuesday, as investors cheered easing tension in Northeast Asia and the limited damage incurred by Hurricane Irma on U.S. southeast coastal areas.
Investors now waited for the launch of Apple's iPhone 8 as its sales will have repercussions beyond Apple for many suppliers as well as its rivals worldwide.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices were steady as key U.S. refineries resumed operation. The possibility of an extension to the 15-month production pact between major oil producers also helped to support prices.
Maybank Kim Eng Research said technically, the immediate support of Straits Times Index lies at 3,220 points, with overhead resistance at 3,275.
Singapore benchmark Straits Times Index rose 7.18 points to 3,235.69 points. Trading volume was 1.28 billion shares worth 993 million Singapore dollars. Advancers outnumbered decliners 215 to 190.
Stamford Tyres ended flat at 34 Singapore cents. It reported first-quarter net profit grew 24 percent to1.9 million Singapore dollars, on higher revenue of 58.9 million Singapore dollars due to improved sales in Australia.
CITIC Envirotech rose 1.4 percent to 75 Singapore cents. It is investing 365 million Chinese yuan for a 51 percent stake in two hazardous waste treatment facilities in Huizhou City and Guangdong Province, China.
The first plant currently has a design capacity of72,000 tons per annum (tpa) and will be expanded to 149,000 tpa, while the second plant has a treatment capacity of 12,500 tpa. Funding will be via proceeds from its 750 million U.S. dollars multi-currency perpetual securities and bank financing.
Among top gainers, Jardine Matheson rose 0.5 percent to 66.39 U.S. dollars, while Venture Corporation became one of the top losers by falling 2 percent to 15.25 Singapore dollars. (1 U.S. dollar = 1.35 Singapore dollars)
