Singapore’s Straits Times Index was little changed at 2,799.62 as of the 12:30 p.m. trading break. Five stocks fell for every three shares that rose on the 30- member gauge.

 

Stocks on the measure trade at 17 times estimated earnings, compared with about 10 times at the start of the year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The following shares were among the most active in the market. 

 

Bulk carriers: The Baltic Dry Index, which measures the cost of shipping commodities, dropped 2.5% in London on Dec. 11, taking losses in the past five days to 12.9%.

 

Cosco Corp. Singapore (COS SP), a China-based shipbuilder that also operates bulk carriers, fell 1.9% to $1.06. Mercator Lines Singapore (MRLN SP), an Indian bulk carrier, slid 1.6% to 30 cents.

Datapulse Technology (DT SP) dropped 4% to 24 cents. The media storage products maker said first- quarter net income fell 32% to $3.9 million from a year ago as sales dropped by 30%.

 

Low Keng Huat (Singapore) (LKH SP) rose 1.5% to 34.5 cents. General Corp. (GCB MK), a Malaysian property group, said its Low Keng Huat (Singapore) unit agreed to form a joint venture to develop apartments, offices and a hotel in Front Beach, Vung Tau City, Vietnam. The joint venture’s investment capital is US$48 million ($66.8 million), the Malaysian company said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur.

 

Popular Holdings (POP SP) advanced 2.7% to 19 cents. The bookstore operator said first-half net income rose 50% from a year ago to $14.8 million. Separately, the company said it plans to sell 194 million shares at 13 cents to existing shareholders.

 

Samko Timber (SAMKO SP) climbed 5.6% to 9.5 cents. The processed timber products maker said it plans to raise $29.2 million, selling shares to existing shareholders.

 

Swiber Holdings (SWIB SP) gained 3.9% to 94.5 cents. The provider of offshore support services to the oil and gas industry said it won two contracts worth as much as US$81.9 million from major oil companies in Southeast Asia.