Singapore’s Straits Times Index was little changed at 2,922.85 at the close. Almost two stocks dropped for each that rose on the 30-member gauge.

Shares on the measure trade at an average 14.1 times estimated earnings, compared with about 17.4 times at the beginning of the year, according to Bloomberg data. The following shares were among the most active in the market. 

 

Palm oil producers: Crude palm oil for November delivery dropped as much as 2% in Kuala Lumpur today.

 

First Resources (FR SP), an Indonesian producer, slipped 0.9% to $1.11. Wilmar International (WIL SP), the world’s biggest palm oil trader, decreased 1.3% to $6.16.

 

Ausgroup (AUSG SP), a provider of engineering services to the mining and oil and gas industries, slipped 2.1% to 47.5 cents. The company said it had a net loss of A$5.3 million ($6.4 million) in the fourth quarter, compared with a profit of A$6.9 million a year earlier.

 

FJ Benjamin Holdings (FJB SP), the Singapore-based retailer of Guess Inc. and Gap Inc., rose 2.9% to 35.5 cents. The company said it had a full-year profit of $8.3 million, compared with a loss of $2.7 million a year earlier.

 

Marco Polo Marine (MPM SP), a shipping and shipbuilding company, climbed 1.2% to 42 cents. The company said it won a two-year contract, valued at $15.5 million, to transport coal from a mine in Indonesia to Malaysia.

 

Wing Tai Holdings (WINGT SP), a property developer, gained 1.8% to $1.72. The company said it had a fourth- quarter profit of $68.9 million, compared with a loss of $53.9 million a year earlier.