Singapore’s Straits Times Index dropped 0.4% to 3,266.42 as of the 12:30 p.m. trading break. Almost four stocks declined for each that rose 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, fell 1.3% in New York yesterday.

 

Noble Group (NOBL SP), a Hong Kong-based commodities supplier, lost 0.4% to $2.30. Olam International (OLAM SP), a Singapore-based supplier of agricultural commodities, decreased 2.1% to $3.22.

 

Genting Singapore Plc (GENS SP), the owner of one of two casino resorts in the city-state, fell 0.5% to $2.21. UOB-Kay Hian Holdings cut its rating on the stock to “sell” from “hold.”

 

GMG Global (GGL SP), a Singapore-based owner of rubber plantations in West Africa, increased 3.4% to 30.5 cents. The company said shipments from its facilities in the Ivory Coast have resumed after delays last month caused by the nation’s political crisis.

 

Kim Eng Holdings (KEH SP), the Singaporean brokerage, which received a takeover offer from Malayan Banking (MAY MK), surged 12% to $3.02 after it resumed trading today. Maybank, as Malaysia’s biggest lender by assets, will pay $3.10 for each Kim Eng share in a deal valued at $1.79 billion.

 

Mirach Energy (MENR SP), the explorer of oil and natural gas, advanced 11% to 10 cents. The company said it signed an agreement with Shanghai Petroleum and Natural Gas Co. to operate and seek new fields. Shanghai Petroleum is partly owned by China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. or Sinopec and CNOOC.