Singapore’s Straits Times Index increased 0.6% to 2,905.66 at the close yesterday. Shares on the measure trade at 15.2 times estimated earnings, compared with about 17.5 times at the start of 2010. Stocks are set to gain on Wednesday, as US shares rallied last night on data suggesting the troubled US housing market is near the bottom of the cycle. Here are a few stocks and factor to watch today, says The Edge Singapore:

Keppel Corp.’s unit Keppel Verolme BV (Keppel Verolme) and consortium partner AREVA Energietechnik GmbH, a German unit of French energy company AREVA, have secured a EUR 62 million ($117.6 million) contract from Wetfeet Offshore Windenergy GmbH (Wetfeet Offshore) to build a Mobile Offshore Application Barge (MOAB) for a new offshore wind farm in the German Exclusive Economic Zone in the North Sea.

Hock Lian Seng Holdings, the civil engineering infrastructure builder and a building materials supplier, said it secured a $7.7 million project from Housing & Development Board (HDB).

China Hu An Cable Holdings has secured two contracts totaling RMB 60 million ($12 million) in China to supply cable & wire products to two existing customers.

Rickmers Maritime trust says it has chartered out M.V. Kaethe C. Rickmers, a 5,060 TEU containership, on a 12-month fixed-rate time-charter to Chilean carrier, Compañía Sudamericana de Vapores (CSAV). The charter is expected to start before the end of March, immediately after the vessel’s first scheduled dry-docking. Kaethe C. Rickmers will be chartered out on a fixed daily net charter hire of US$8,288 ($11,621) for the first year, with CSAV having an option to extend for another 12 months at a fixed net charter hire of US$23,888 per day.

Wee Hur Holdings’ wholly-owned subsidiary, Wee Hur Construction, has secured a $103.6 million contract to redevelop Jurong Entertainment Centre at 2 Jurong East Street 13 which is managed by CapitaMall Trust.

Bank of China, China’s fourth largest bank, said today it was in talks with Temasek Holdings, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, to set up a rural business bank in China. The bank under discussion would have 40-60 branches, President Li Lihui told reporters at a media briefing to discuss Bank of China’s 2009 results.

Singapore Post sold $200 million of 10-year, 3.5% bonds, according to a person familiar with the matter, reported Bloomberg. The bonds were priced to yield 62.7 basis points more than benchmark swap rates, the person said, asking Bloomberg not to identify him before a public announcement.

Longcheer Holdings, the designer of mobile phones in China, announced the group has entered into a partnership with Hong Kong-listed Vodone and Taiwan-based C-Media Electronics Inc. to jointly develop a mobile lottery business and multimedia value-added service in China.

Tiger Airways Holdings has appointed a new managing director for its Australian operations. Crawford Rix, who is currently serving notice as Managing Director of UK low-cost carrier bmibaby, will replace incumbent Shelley Roberts. The exact date of Rix’s joining will be announced when it is determined later.