Singapore shares gave up their intraday gains as investors took profits ahead of tonight's US December nonfarm payrolls report, which will shed more light on the health of the world's biggest economy.
The Straits Times Index closed 0.2% lower at 3,338.44 after having risen to 3,372.
About 1.33 billion shares worth $1.25 billion changed hands, compared with 1.40 billion shares worth $1.15 on Thursday.
Market breadth turned neutral from positive, with 199 gainers and 193 decliners.
UOB led declines among blue chips, falling 2.7% to $23.38.
The ICE U.S. Dollar Index moved lower Friday as a contraction in hourly wage growth in December caused investors to delay their expectations for when the Federal Reserve will begin raising its benchmark interest rate.
But despite its losses on Friday, the greenback still recorded a gain for the week as investor worries about the outcome of Greece’s general election later this month pushed the euro lower against the dollar for most of the week.
The dollar index, DXY, -0.43% a measure of the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six rival currencies, was down 0.46% to 91.9450.
The dollar USDJPY, +0.00% was at ¥118.50, compared with ¥119.65 late Thursday in New York. The euro EURUSD, +0.00% was at $1.1839, from $1.1788.
The pound GBPUSD, +0.00% rose slightly against the dollar, moving back above the $1.51 level after U.K. manufacturing output recorded strong growth in December.
February gasoline RBG5, -1.51% slipped nearly 2 cents, or 1.3%, to settle at $1.3232 a gallon on the Nymex. That was the lowest settlement for gasoline futures since March 11, 2009. Gasoline futures ended the week down 7.7%.
February heating oil HOG5, -0.37% fell 80 cents to $1.7030 a gallon on Nymex, amassing weekly losses of 5.2%. February natural gas NGG15, +1.26% rose 2 cents to finish at $2.9460 per million British thermal units, but lost 2% on the week.