Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.3% to 3,249.58 at the close. Three stocks advanced for each that fell in the benchmark equity index of 30 companies.

Shares on the measure trade at an average 14.8 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. 

Oil-rig builders: JPMorgan Chase & Co. maintained its “overweight” rating on the world’s biggest oil-rig builders and increased its share-price forecasts, saying it expects the companies to secure more orders. Keppel Corp. (KEP SP) gained 0.7% $11.54 after the brokerage raised its share-price estimate to $14.10 from $11.40.

Sembcorp Marine (SMM SP), whose share-price estimate was raised to $6.40 from $5.30, climbed 2.7% to $5.28. The company said it won four contracts, valued at $215 million .

Courage Marine Group  (CMG SP), a shipping company, surged 13% to 21.5 cents. The company said it’s seeking dual listing on the main board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

Singapore Exchange (SGX SP), operator of the securities and derivatives exchange in the city, increased 0.8% to $8.50. The company decided to scrap its midday trading break from March 1 after bigger rivals Hong Kong and Japan moved to reduce lunch breaks. The company said fiscal second-quarter profit rose 3.3% to $74.2 million from a year earlier.

Stats Chippac  (STAT SP), a Singapore-based provider of semiconductor testing and assembly services, gained 0.6% to 89 cents. The company said it has expanded its wafer level packaging services with the opening of a new 300- millimeter manufacturing facility in Taiwan.