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SINGAPORE \u2013 Singapore stocks ended lower on April 13, tracking declines across regional bourses as investors remained cautious amid the continuation of the Middle East conflict<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) lost 0.1 per cent or 5.24 points to finish at 4,984.17. <\/p>\n Sembcorp Industries led the gainers on Singapore\u2019s blue-chip index, rising 1 per cent or seven cents to $6.96.<\/p>\n The worst performer among STI constituents was Hongkong Land, which fell 2.1 per cent or 17 US cents to US$7.91.<\/p>\n The three local banks bucked the broader declines to end higher on April 13. DBS gained 0.3 per cent or 17 cents to $57.52, OCBC Bank rose 0.5 per cent or 11 cents to $22.58, and UOB was up 0.1 per cent or three cents at $37.42. <\/p>\n The iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index gained 0.4 per cent or 5.99 points to 1,509.20.<\/p>\n Across the broader market, decliners outnumbered gainers 315 to 262 after 1.3 billion securities changed hands.<\/p>\n Regional markets ended in negative territory. <\/p>\n Hong Kong\u2019s Hang Seng Index shed 0.9 per cent; Japan\u2019s Nikkei 225 fell 0.7 per cent; South Korea\u2019s Kospi was down 0.9 per cent; and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declined 0.6 per cent.<\/p>\n The failed US-Iran talks over the weekend<\/span><\/a> and US President Donald Trump\u2019s subsequent pledge to block the Strait of Hormuz<\/span><\/a> squashed nascent hopes of ending the Middle East conflict. <\/p>\n \u201cMarkets want to look through the uncertainty of the negotiations and trade the end result,\u201d said Mr Eric Robertsen, global head of research and chief strategist at Standard Chartered Bank. <\/p>\n \u201cThe challenge is that the path to that destination may involve significantly more volatility.\u201d <\/p>\n He added that as negotiations unfold, the economies of energy importers continue to suffer, putting further strain on their fiscal balances. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s difficult to fade optimism. But we are inclined to believe that the road ahead remains rocky, and we expect more volatility.\u201d THE BUSINESS TIMES<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n