The Straits Times Index (STI) added 1.54 per cent or 58.81 points to 3,886.98. Across the broader market, losers outnumbered gainers 283 to 237 on trade of 960 million shares worth $1.38 billion.

Non-oil domestic exports from the Southeast Asian trading hub grew 9.0% from a year ago last month, Enterprise Singapore said Friday. That compared with the median estimate for a 7.85% increase projected by eight economists polled by The Wall Street Journal, and November's 3.4% growth.

The outcome here left the Straits Times Index (STI) down a chunky 1.6 per cent or 61.04 points to 3,801.56, with the banks taking a major hit. Losers outnumbered gainers 346 to 192 on trade of 898.6 million securities worth $1.2 billion.

ASIAN markets extended a global rally on Thursday after below-forecast US inflation provided a much-needed shot of relief to investors and revived hopes for interest rate cuts this year. Read more at The Business Times.

While higher longer-term bond yields can be a benefit to net interest income growth and margins for lenders, they can also signal additional pressure on consumers and slow the pace of borrowing.

People walk inside the Korea Exchange (KRX) building, as stock markets in Asia as a whole have been affected by the intensifying political turmoil over president Yoon Suk Yeol’s role in martial law, in Seoul, South Korea, on Dec. 9, 2024.

Stock market volatility is also rising with the Cboe Volatility Index, or VIX, hovering around 20, a level that typically indicates angst among traders.

This is CNBC's live blog covering Asia-Pacific markets. Asia-Pacific markets opened mixed Tuesday after a mixed session on Wall Street that saw the Dow soar and the Nasdaq slip as investors rotated out of tech stocks.