Singapore shares may be lifted on Friday after strong earnings from US economic bellwethers, such as 3M (MMM.N) and Caterpillar (CAT.N), boosted investor confidence and led to a rebound on Wall Street.

Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index (.FTSTI) rose 1.01% on Thursday to 2,955.67 points. Here are some stocks and factors to watch:

Singapore’s Keppel Corp (KPLM.SI), the world’s largest maker of oil rigs, posted a better-than-expected 9.4% rise in second-quarter net profit of $347.3 million, but warned the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was affecting its orderbook.

Singapore Airlines (SIA SP): The world’s second-largest airline by market value said it will add more flights to cities including Los Angeles and Moscow in response to a global rebound in travel. Singapore Air lost 0.3% to $14.70.

Singapore-listed Chinese shipping firm Cosco (COSC.SI) said its subsidiary had secured a contract worth more than US$500 million ($686 million) from Dalian Deepwater Development to build a deepwater drillship. Cosco shares surged 6.6% to hit over a 11-week high at $1.61 on Thursday.

Singapore Exchange (SGXL.SI) will be clearing four new over-the-counter container swap contracts starting August 2, which it expects to support the nascent container freight derivatives market.

Anwell Technologies (ANTE.SI), a supplier of manufacturing equipment for optical discs said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with an unnamed global media manufacturer to deliver equipment for blu-ray discs.

Swiber (SWBR.SI) has increased the size of its multicurrency medium term note programme to $500 million from $300 million. DBS Bank has been appointed the new arranger of the programme.

Singapore’s Changi Airport, Asia’s fifth-largest, said on Thursday the number of passengers in June rose 18.6% from a year ago to 3.62 million. The airport, a major hub in Asia, also said it handled 13.1% more air cargo volume that month at nearly 150,000 tonnes.

Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust (SUN SP): The office and shopping mall landlord partly owned by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing said its second-quarter distribution per unit declined 15% from a year earlier to 2.528 cents. Suntec rose 0.7% to $1.44.

Shipping companies: The Baltic Dry Index of commodity-shipping rates rose 1.1% in London yesterday, taking its five-day advance to 5.9%.
STX Pan Ocean Co. (STX SP), South Korea’s biggest bulk carrier, climbed 1.9% to $13.72. Mercator Lines Singapore (MRLN SP), an Indian bulk carrier, fell 1.8% to 28 cents.