Singapore’s Straits Times Index increased 0.2 % to 3,197.09 as of the 12:30 p.m. trading break. About the same number of stocks rose and fell in the benchmark equity index of 30 companies.

Shares on the measure trade at an average 15.5 times estimated earnings, compared with about 17.4 times at the beginning of the year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The following shares were among the most active in the market. 

Telecommunications companies: Mobile-phone subscriptions in Singapore increased to 7.21 million in October from 7.18 million in September, raising the number of active mobile numbers to 142 % of the population from 141 %.

Singapore Telecommunications (ST SP), Southeast Asia’s biggest phone company gained 0.3 % to $3.14. Starhub (STH SP), Singapore’s second-largest phone company, climbed 0.8 % to $2.67. M1 (M1 SP), the smallest phone company, increased 0.9 % to $2.30.

 

ARA Asset Management (ARA SP): The property trust partly owned by Li Ka-Shing’s Cheung Kong Holdings rose 0.7 % to $1.45. Credit Suisse Group AG raised its share-price forecast to $1.74 from $1.18 and maintained its “outperform” rating.

 

Mewah International Inc. (MII SP), a producer of vegetable oils, increased 3.2 % to 96 cents. Nomura Holdings Inc. initiated coverage of the stock with a “buy” rating and a share-price forecast of $1.30.

 

Mun Siong Engineering (MSE SP), a provider of engineering services to petrochemical companies, advanced 2.8 % to 18.5 cents. DMG & Partners Securities Pte initiated coverage of the stock with a “buy” rating and a share-price forecast of 28 cents.

 

Wilmar International (WIL SP), the world’s biggest palm-oil trader, dropped 0.7 % to $6. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lowered its rating on the stock to “neutral” from “buy,” saying profit margins in China will be under pressure in the near term as the company seeks to grow its market share.