July 26: Ascendas Hospitality Trust, Aussino, SIA, Biosensors, SATS

Singapore stocks may rise on ECB talk and as earnings buoy Dow.

Singapore shares closed 0.25% lower on Wednesday. The STI fell 7.52 points to 2,990.92. About 1.2 billion shares were traded. Losers beat gainers 218 to 140.

Here are some stocks and factors to watch:

Ascendas Hospitality Trust (A-HTRUST), said the public tranche of its IPO was 5.9 times oversubscribed. This was based on valid applications for 484,929,000 stapled securities received for the 70,148,000 stapled securities available to the public at the close of subscription.

Frasers Commercial Trust announced a distributable income of $11 million to unitholders for the quarter ended 30 June 2012 (3Q FY12), a 25.8% increase compared to $8.7 million achieved a year ago.

Aussino Group, which has been on the watch list of the SGX since September 2011, said it plans to buy Max Strategic Investments for $70 million, payable in shares. Max Strategic has agreed to acquire from Max Myanmar its energy business unit which operates 21 petrol kiosks across key cities in Myanmar.

Singapore Airlines reported a 73% increase in earnings to $78 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2012 from $44.7 million a year ago. SIA warned that profits at its cargo and passenger units remain under pressure.

Biosensors International Group said earning for the first quarter ended June 30, 2012 rose 45% to US$32.63 million from a year ago.

SATS reported a 2.8% decrease in earnings to $41.3 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2012 from a restated $42.5 million a year ago.

PEC said it has secured a $65 million worth of contracts from new and existing clients.

Roxy-Pacific Holdings said its wholly owned subsidiary, RH West Coast, has agreed to acquire a freehold residential site at 223A Pasir Panjang Road, also known as Harbour View Gardens, at $33 million.

Mapletree Commercial Trust Management has recorded a DPU of 1.537 cents for 1Q FY 2012/13 (the period from 1 April 2012 to 30 June 2012). This is an increase of 20.6% over the Forecast DPU of 1.274 cents.