Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.2% to 3,184.74 at the close. Four stocks advanced for every three that fell in the benchmark index of 30 companies.

Shares on the measure trade at an average 14.5 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, increased 1.8% in New York yesterday, extending its advance for a second day.

 

Noble Group (NOBL SP), a Hong Kong-based commodities supplier, gained 0.5% to $2.19. Olam International (OLAM SP), a Singapore-based supplier of agricultural commodities, climbed 1.6% to $3.09.

CEI Contract Manufacturing (CEI SP), a maker of electronics components, jumped 8% to 13.5 cents. The company said full-year net income increased to $5.2 million from $2.3 million a year earlier.

 

Neptune Orient Lines (NOL SP), Southeast Asia’s biggest container carrier, gained 0.5% to $2.21. The company said average freight rates in the seven weeks to Dec. 31 climbed 21% from a year earlier as it transported 26% more cargo.

 

Renewable Energy Asia Group (REAG SP), a Singapore- based developer of alternative energy projects, increased 2.4% to 21.5 cents. The company said it received approval to build a 10-megawatt solar power plant in Mongolia. The project will cost about 190 million yuan ($36.7 million) to develop, it said.