SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed 1.35 per cent lower in cautious trading on Thursday as investors awaited a report on US jobs data, dealers said.

Analysts said investors expect the data to show further signs about the health of the recession-hit US economy, a key global economic growth engine.

The blue-chip Straits Times Index fell 31.73 points to 2,320.82 on a volume of 1.38 billion shares worth S$1.14 billion. Decliners outnumbered rising stocks 251 to 176, with 831 issues unchanged.

"We're telling clients to hold off for now as the US economic numbers have not been fantastic, given hopes for recovery," said an analyst with a local brokerage.

Among the banks, DBS fell 34 cents to S$11.64, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp was even at S$6.75 and United Overseas Bank tumbled 18 cents to S$14.50.

Property stocks ended lower, with CapitaLand easing 12 cents to S$3.63, City Developments pulling back 20 cents to S$8.51 and Keppel Land dipping five cents to S$2.21.

Singapore Airlines declined 10 cents to S$13.20, Singapore Telecom was steady at S$2.99, shipping firm Neptune Orient Lines dropped four cents to S$1.45 and media giant Singapore Press Holdings finished two cents lower at S$3.17.

- AFP/yt