The Straits Times Index gained 1.4% to 2,396.35 at the 5:10 p.m. close, the highest since Sept 26.

The measure climbed 2.9% this week, extending last month’s 21% advance. Nine stocks advanced for every five that declined on the 30-member gauge.

The following shares were among the most active in the market today. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.

SembCorp Marine (SMM SP), the world’s second-biggest builder of oil rigs, climbed 4.2% to $2.98. The company said it has settled a dispute with Norsk Tillitsman ASA and PetroRig 1 Pte, a wholly-owned unit of Norway’s PetroMena ASA. This allows the company to proceed with the sale of a rig it has built for PetroRig, which failed to make its meet its final payment for the rig and filed for bankruptcy in the US, it said.

Singapore Telecommunications (ST SP) gained 3.8% to $3.04. DMG & Partners Securities reiterated its “buy” rating on SingTel, as Southeast Asia’s biggest telecommunications company is known, saying the proposed merger between its associate Bharti Airtel and South Africa’s MTN Group is beneficial to Bharti. SingTel holds a 30% stake in Bharti.

STX Pan Ocean Co.(STX SP), South Korea’s biggest bulk carrier, slumped 4.1% to $15.02. The Baltic Dry Index, which measures the cost of shipping commodities, declined 4.6% in London yesterday, snapping a 23-day, 142% rally.

Wilmar International (WIL SP), the world’s biggest palm oil trader, gained 4% to $4.90. CIMB Research raised its share-price target to $5.45 from $5.30 and maintained its “outperform” rating.