Singapore’s Straits Times Index rose 0.6% to 2,854.32 at the 12:30 p.m. trading break. Two stocks fell on the 30-member gauge. Shares 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.

Palm oil suppliers: Crude palm oil for March delivery rose 1.9% in Kuala Lumpur today, extending a 2.2% gain on Dec 24. Indofood Agri Resources (IFAR SP), the palm oil unit of Indonesia’s biggest noodle maker, climbed 2.4% to $2.13. Golden Agri-Resources (GGR SP), the world’s second-biggest palm oil producer, advanced 1% to 49.5 cents. Wilmar International (WIL SP), the world’s biggest palm oil trader, added 0.6% to $6.43.

BRC Asia (BRC SP) surged 23% to 19 cents. HG Metal Manufacturing (HGM SP), a steel products maker, said on Dec 24 it will divest 12% of BRC Asia’s total shares for 14.5 cents each, reducing its stake in the supplier of steel mesh products to 31.67%. HG Metal was unchanged at 12.5 cents.

Mermaid Maritime Pcl (MMT SP) gained 2.5% to 82 cents. The provider of drilling services to the oil and gas industry controlled by Thoresen Thai Agencies Pcl said it plans to buy M.V. Team Siam, a support vessel, for US$29.5 million ($41.5 million) to secure long-term access to it.

Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC SP) added 0.7% to $8.98. The Singapore bank that owns the island’s biggest life insurer has bought a 19.99% stake in South China Trust Co. for $12.2 million, the company said in a statement to the Singapore exchange.