Singapore shares may open lower on Friday, following Tokyo, after US stocks weakened overnight as soft retail sales and a sharp rise in the dollar left investors edgy before December’s US employment report.

Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index <.FTSTI> rose 0.78% on Thursday to 3,279.70 points.

Here are some stocks and factors to watch:

Singapore broker Kim Eng (KEHS.SI) may be in focus as Maybank (MBBM.KL), Malaysia's largest lender by assets, has offered to buy the firm for US$1.4 billion ($1.8 billion). Kim Eng shares were suspended from trading on Thursday.

Ship chartering firm Marco Polo Marine (MAPM.SI) said on Thursday it had acquired a utility vessel for US$4.87 million ($6.3 million) to expand its offshore business to Thailand in view of the strong global demand for oil and gas.

Technology firm Stratech Systems (SSYM.SI) said on Thursday it plans to buy an 80% stake in Global Telecom, a company incorporated in South Korea that provides images and network solutions to telecom service providers and government agencies, for US$7.6 million ($9.8 million).

Sino Construction (SICL.SI), a Singapore-listed Chinese firm, said on Thursday it will repay the 229.5 million yuan ($44.8 million) debt owed by Daqing Sunshine Reli Thermal, which it is acquiring, to Yinyi Real Estate.

Tee International (TEEI.SI), an engineering and real estate company, said on Thursday its net profit for the half year ended November 30 rose 54% to $6.9 million from a year ago mainly due to improved operational efficiency and contributions from its property businesses in Singapore and Thailand.