4 stocks to watch on Monday: NVDA, PANW, MSTR, and UPS

On Monday (Aug 24), Singapore's stocks closed lower, with the Straits Times Index (STI) declining by 0.1 percent or 8.50 points to reach 5,680.46. Wilmar International emerged as the top gainers among the blue-chip index, surging 1.3 percent or S$0.05 to S$3.76. Seatrium recorded the biggest loss among the STI constituents, slipping 2.8 percent or S$0.06 to S$2.09.

The three major local banks experienced a mixed performance. UOB gained 0.5 percent or S$0.20 to S$40.73, while DBS fell 0.6 percent or S$0.44 to S$75.56, and OCBC ended the day 0.2 percent or S$0.06 lower at S$30.92. In the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index, UltraGreen.ai was the top performer, rising 13.4 percent or US$0.085 to US$0.72, while CSE Global experienced the steepest decline, dropping 4.8 percent or S$0.06 to S$1.19.

The most actively traded stock by volume was DBS, with 2.5 million shares amounting to S$186.2 million. Salt Investments stood out as the most actively traded stock, with 259.5 million shares changing hands. Out of the broader market, losers outnumbered gainers 336 to 250, with 1.4 billion securities valued at S$1.5 billion exchanged during the session.

Geographically, key regional markets also experienced a decline on Monday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped by 1.9 percent, South Korea's Kospi fell 3.1 percent, Japan's Nikkei 225 closed 0.7 percent lower, and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI inched down 0.01 percent. George Bory, Allspring's chief investment strategist for fixed income, anticipates Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to emphasize a clearer separation of responsibilities between the US Federal Reserve and the US Treasury, potentially in his upcoming speech on Friday.

Bory believes Warsh will focus on the Fed's traditional mandate and monetary policy, while the more assertive Treasury will play a larger role in managing market dynamics and yield curve.