THE tumultuous Year of the Earth Rat ended with something of a whimper on the local bourse yesterday.

It was the final trading day before the reputedly placid Ox ushers in what investors desperately hope will be better times. But belying the gut-wrenching year that was, trading yesterday was slow and measured as stock prices moved in a tight range. The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) ended 23.54 points, or 1.38 per cent, lower at 1,685.23.

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