STI gains 0.3% to 2,708.13 at closing

Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 0.3% to 2,708.13 at the close, erasing losses of as much as 1.2%.

The gauge is headed for a 6.1% decline this month, extending the quarterly drop to 13%, the most since December 2008. Four stocks fell for every three that rose in the index of 30 companies. The following shares were among the most active in the market.

Export-related companies: Shares of exporters, port operators and shipping companies gained after a report showed orders for U.S. capital goods climbed in August by the most in three months, a sign business investment continues to support a recovery in the world’s biggest economy.

 

Beyonics Technology (BT SP), the provider of electronics manufacturing services that gets about 36% of sales from the U.S., climbed 4.3% to 17.1 Singapore cents. Neptune Orient Lines (NOL SP), the container carrier that counts the Americas as its biggest market, jumped 4.6% to $1.135. Hutchison Port Holdings Trust (HPHT SP), the owner of port facilities in Hong Kong and China, gained 1.6% to 63.5 U.S. cents.

 

Palm-oil producers: Crude palm-oil futures for December delivery dropped as much as 2.1% in Kuala Lumpur today, heading for its second day of decline.

Golden Agri-Resources (GGR SP), the world’s second- biggest palm-oil producer by sales, slid 0.8% to 62.5 cents. Indofood Agri Resources (IFAR SP), the plantation unit of Indonesia’s No. 1 noodle maker, fell 0.8% to $1.26.

 

Shipyards: The world’s biggest oil rig builders declined after UOB-Kay Hian Holdings cut its rating on the sector to “market weight” from “overweight.” Declining crude oil prices may reduce contract awards, analysts including Nancy Wei wrote in a note to clients.

 

Keppel Corp. (KEP SP), the world’s No. 1 maker of oil platforms, fell 1.6% to $7.94 after UOB reduced its share-price forecast to $9.60 from $13 and maintained its “buy” rating. Smaller rival SembCorp Marine (SMM SP) slid 1.5% to $3.35 after the rating was cut to “hold” from “buy.” Cosco Corp. Singapore (COS SP), a Chinese shipbuilder, dropped to 1.6% to 94  cents as the brokerage recommended investors “sell” the stock.

 

TTJ Holdings (TTJ SP), a Singapore-based supplier of structural steel, advanced 5.6% to 15 cents. The company said full-year net income increased to $14.4 million from $6.8 million a year earlier.