Singapore’s Straits Times Index added 0.2% to 2,915.46 as of the 12:30 p.m. local time break. The measure is heading for a 0.2% decline this week. Seven stocks gained for every six that fell on the 30- member gauge.

 

Stocks on the measure trade at 15.8 times estimated earnings, compared with about 10 times at the start of 2009, 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 fell 2.4% in Kuala Lumpur today. Golden Agri-Resources (GGR SP), the world’s second-biggest palm oil producer, slipped 3.4% to 57.5 cents. Indofood Agri Resources (IFAR SP), the palm oil unit of Indonesia’s biggest noodle maker, tumbled 3.8% to $2.31.

 

Wilmar International (WIL SP), the world’s biggest palm oil trader, added 1.6% to $7.15. Kim Eng Holdings raised its share-price forecast to $8.10 from $7.50 and maintained its “buy” rating.

 

AusGroup (AUSG SP), a provider of engineering services to the mining and oil and gas industries, added 0.7% to 69 cents. The company said it won a contract from Apache Energy. The contract, worth A$5 million ($6.5 million) annually, will be for an initial term of three years, with an option to renew for another two years.

 

CapitaLand (CAPL SP), Southeast Asia’s biggest developer, rose 0.9% to $4.30. OCBC Investment Research maintained its “buy” rating and raised its share-price forecast to $4.95 from $4.15.

 

China Fishery Group (CFG SP), a fishing fleet operator, lost 1.1% to $1.86. DMG & Partners Securities downgraded the stock to “neutral” from “buy,” citing valuation concerns.

 

Ezra Holdings (EZRA SP), a provider of offshore logistics services to the oil and gas industry, dropped 3.8% to $2.51. Concern that recent gains made the stock unattractive overshadowed the company’s higher first-quarter profit. Citigroup Inc. maintained its “sell” rating. DBS Group Holdings and OCBC Investment Research downgraded the stock to “hold” from “buy.”

 

The company said yesterday first-quarter net income climbed 93% to US$18.4 million ($25.5 million) from a year earlier. Ezra advanced 14% in the five days through yesterday.

 

STX Pan Ocean Co. (STX SP), South Korea’s biggest bulk carrier, advanced 3.9% to $16.12. The Baltic Dry Index, which measures the cost of shipping commodities, gained 1.9% yesterday in London, extending its advance to 3% in the previous four days.