Singapore shares are expected to open lower on Thursday after US stocks fell overnight on weak data and a downbeat outlook from the Federal Reserve. Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index rose 0.2% on Wednesday to 2,985.38 points.

Singapore’s Mapletree Logistics Trust (MAPL.SI) which owns warehouses across Asia, said on Wednesday it had agreed to buy three properties in Japan for $200 million.

CapitaMalls Asia (CMAL.SI) could spend as much as S$3 billion to develop or buy shopping malls in Singapore, Malaysia and China, by using some borrowings on top of the S$1 billion cash that it has, partly from the proceeds of listing CapitaMalls Malaysia Trusts (CAMA.KL), the local press reported, quoting CapitaMalls' chief executive.

Great Eastern Holdings (GELA.SI) said on Wednesday its second quarter net profit fell 24% to $74.4 million from a year ago due to the poor investment performance arising from concerns about euro zone debt.

Singapore Post (SPOS.SI) said on Wednesday its first quarter net profit increased 3.2% to $40.7 million from a year ago on the back of higher domestic mail and international mail traffic.

Elec & Eltek International Co. (ELEC SP): The maker of printed circuit boards said second-quarter profit increased to US$24.1 million ($33 million) from US$10.2 million.

Frasers Commercial Trust (FCOT SP): The office landlord partly owned by Fraser & Neave said third-quarter distributable income increased 39% to $7.7 million from a year earlier. Frasers Commercial was unchanged at 15 cents.

Kreuz Holdings (KRZ SP): The provider of engineering services to the oil and gas industry will start trading today. The company sold 80 million shares at 27 cents each in its initial share sale.

Lian Beng Group (LBG SP): The Singapore-based construction company said full-year profit increased 41% to $24 million from a year earlier. Lian Beng rose 1.7% to 29.5 cents.

Shipping companies: The Baltic Dry Index of commodity-shipping rates rose 1.7% in London yesterday, taking its nine-day advance to 12%. Cosco Corp. Singapore (COS SP), a China-based shipbuilder that also operates bulk carriers, dipped 0.6% $1.60. STX Pan Ocean Co. (STX SP), South Korea’s biggest bulk carrier, slipped 2.7% to $13.62. Mercator Lines Singapore (MRLN SP), an Indian bulk carrier, fell 5.2% 27.5 cents.