On the Singapore bourse, gainers outnumbered losers 76 to 45, after about 44.6 million securities worth S$36.3 million changed hands.
Among the most heavily traded by volume, Medtecs International gained 3.5 Singapore cents or 5.6 per cent to 66 cents, with 6.7 million shares traded, while Singapore-eDevelopment added 0.4 Singapore cent or 4.4 per cent to 9.5 cents, with 3.6 million shares changing hands. Banking stocks were mixed in early trade. DBS gained S$0.01 or 0.05 per cent to S$21.39, United Overseas Bank slipped S$0.06 or 0.3 per cent to S$20.50, while OCBC Bank was flat at S$9.17.
Other active stocks include Top Glove, which rose S$0.44 or 5.9 per cent to S$7.96, and Biolidics, which advanced two Singapore cents or 4.8 per cent to 43.5 cents.