Singapore stocks may open higher on Wednesday after Wall Street rose overnight as investors bought shares in sectors that have outperformed during the month. Stocks and factors to watch. Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> was down 0.52% on Tuesday at 3,097.35 points.

Singapore Airlines (SIA SP): Air-traffic growth slowed for a second month in August, suggesting that a recovery in demand for flights may have peaked, the International Air Transport Association said yesterday. The gain in passenger traffic eased to 6.4% compared with a year earlier, down from 9.5% in July and a high of 11.9% in June. Singapore Air, the world’s second-biggest carrier by market value, slipped 1.2% to $16.28.

Singapore Technologies Engineering (STEG.SI) may be in focus after it said on Tuesday its unit has been awarded a contract to buy aircraft and equipment worth $543 million.

Singapore’s Sembcorp Marine (SCMN.SI), the world’s second largest offshore rig builder, said on Tuesday its unit has won two floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) contracts worth $75 million ($56.90 million).

Singapore construction firm Yongnam Holdings (YNAM.SI) said on Tuesday it has won a second contract worth $27.5 million for the MRT Downtown Line 2, one of the city-state’s major rail projects.

Electronics group Beyonics Technology (BEYT.SI) said on Tuesday its net profit for the year ended July 31 rose 67% to $6.9 million from a year ago mainly due to better conditions in the hard disk drive and automotive industries, as well as improved cost control.

Bio-Treat Technology (BIOT SP): The Singapore-based waste and wastewater treatment company said it plans to raise $39.7 million selling shares to existing shareholders at 4 cents apiece. The stock dropped 5% to 9.5 cents.

Nera Telecommunications (NERT SP): The supplier of wireless equipment to the telecommunications industry said it won contracts, valued at 3.1 million ringgit ($1.3 million), in Malaysia. Its shares dropped 1.5% to 33.5 cents.

Shipping companies: The Baltic Dry Index of commodity-shipping rates climbed 2.2% in London yesterday, taking its two-day advance to 2.5%. Cosco Corp. Singapore (COS SP), a China-based shipbuilder that also operates bulk carriers, declined 4.8% to $1.80. Mercator Lines Singapore (MRLN SP), an Indian bulk carrier, slipped 1.8% to 28 cents. STX Pan Ocean Co. (STX SP), South Korea’s biggest bulk carrier, lost 1.3% to $13.70.