Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.6% to 3,274.23 as of the 12:30 p.m. trading break. Almost two stocks advanced for each that fell in the benchmark equity index of 30 companies.

Shares on the measure trade at an average 14.9 times estimated earnings, compared with about 15.6 times at the end of 2010, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The following shares were among the most active in the market.

 

Commodity suppliers: The Thomson Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index, which tracks prices of 19 commodities from copper to corn, gained 0.5% in New York yesterday.

Noble Group (NOBL SP), a Hong Kong-based commodities supplier, rose 2.6% to $2.33. Olam International (OLAM SP), a Singapore-based supplier of agricultural commodities, advanced 1.9% to $3.28.

 

Oil-rig builders: Keppel Corp. (KEP SP), the world’s biggest builder of oil rigs, climbed 1.4% to $11.50 after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its recommendation on the stock to “buy” from “neutral.” Smaller rival Sembcorp Marine (SMM SP), which the brokerage cut to “neutral” from “buy,” lost 0.6% to $5.23.

 

Palm-oil producers: Crude palm-oil futures for March delivery jumped as much as 2.3% in Kuala Lumpur today.

 

First Resources (FR SP), an Indonesian palm-plantation company, advanced 0.7% to $1.56. Golden Agri-Resources. (GGR SP), the world’s second-biggest palm-oil producer, rose 1.3% to 81 cents.

 

Wilmar International (WIL SP), the world’s biggest palm-oil trader, gained 2.2% to $5.68. The company said it and its partners Kerry Properties and Shangri-La Asia won the bid to acquire six sites in China’s Liaoning province for 1.36 billion yuan ($264.8 million).

 

Singapore Airlines (SIA SP), the world’s second- biggest carrier by market value, gained 0.7% to $15.22. The company said it will reorganize to take on new challenges. Executive Vice President Mak Swee Wah will take on additional responsibilities for marketing and sales, and Ng Chin Hwee, executive vice president of human resources and planning, will be in charge of operational activities.

 

Stats Chippac (STAT SP), a Singapore-based provider of semiconductor testing and assembly services, increased 0.6% to 90.5 cents. The company said it has priced its issue of US$200 million ($258.3 million) senior notes due 2016 at a coupon rate of 5.375%. Proceeds from the debt issue will be used to repay existing borrowings.