Sept 23: Aug CPI, YHM

Singapore shares ended lower on Friday. The blue-chip STI ended down 0.4% or 14.25 points at 3,237.53. Here are some factors and company news that could affect the market this Monday morning:

Singapore's consumer price index (CPI) probably rose at a faster year-on-year pace for a fourth consecutive month in August as higher car prices offset a slower rise in the cost of accommodation, according to a Reuters poll. The median estimate of economists is that the CPI will rise by 2.0 per cent in August from a year ago, up from July's 1.9%.

YHM Group announced it has a secured a contract worth about US$183 million over a three-year period. The contract comes with an additional two-year extendable option and is for the provision of a semi-submersible rig (semi) to a South East Asian-based national oil company to support its oil and gas activities in the Andaman Sea.