Singapore's Strait Times Index fell on Friday to end the week in red, tracking overnight declines in North American and European markets.

During the day, the benchmark Singapore Strait Times Index ranged between 3,271.58 and 3,297.80, ending 0.23% or 7.65 points lower at 3,280.10.

In economic news, Singapore's manufacturing output dropped 9.2% year over year in March, reversing a climb of 3.8% in February, as four out of six clusters declined, according to an EDB Singapore report.

iFast's (SGX:AIY) shares were up over 2% after it booked an attributable profit of SG$14.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, up 387% compared with SG$2.7 million in the year-ago period.

Far East Orchard (SGX:O10) shares rose 1% on Friday's close, as it acquired a 49% stake in UK based purpose-built student accommodation operator, Home for Students (HFS) for SG$30.0 million.

In company news, Jiutian Chemical Group (SGX:C8R) closed flat on Friday, as it posted an attributable loss of 48.1 million yuan for the first quarter, shrinking 57% from 111.1 million yuan a year earlier.