Roundup: Singapore stocks end up 0.49 pct

Singapore shares closed 0.49 percent higher on Thursday, although trading was quiet as many investors were away ahead of Christmas holiday.

U.S. stocks rose overnight as U.S. crude futures were up to around 38 U.S. dollars a barrel. Both U.S. crude and Brent crude futures gained more than a dollar a barrel on Wednesday in thin trading, a day after Brent had touched its lowest level since July 2004.

Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index rose 13.97 points to 2,877.62 points. Trading volume was 547 million shares worth 378 million Singapore dollars. Advancers outnumbered decliners 187 to 133, while 602 stocks did not move.

Interplex Holdings soared 11.3 percent to 79 Singapore cents. On Wednesday, Baring Private Equity Asia said it was looking to offer 450 million Singapore dollars to buy Interplex, the engineering company, majority owned by CVC Capital Partners and the private equity arm of Standard Chartered.

Wilmar International shed 0.3 percent to 2.93 Singapore dollars. It planned to establish a sugar venture in Brazil with Raizen Energia SA in order to rival the partnership between Cargill and Copersucar SA, the leading exporter in Brazil this year. The new joint venture will strengthen existing integrated production and trading operations of Sao Paulo-based Raizen, a partnership between Royal Dutch Shell and Cosan SA. Brazil is the world's biggest sugar producer and exporter. Wilmar has sugar operations in countries including Australia, Indonesia and India.

Among the top gainers, Jardine Cycle and Carriage rose 1.8 percent to 34.48 Singapore dollars, whereas Jardine Matheson became one of the top losers by falling 0.9 percent to 47.48 U.S. dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals to 1.41 Singapore dollars) Endit