Singapore stocks end up 0.45%

Singapore shares closed 0.45 percent higher on Thursday, buoyed by the relatively positive U.S. economic data. U.S. jobless claims unexpectedly fell last week and the University of Michigan consumer confidence improved from a preliminary reading, while the Chicago purchasing managers' index held up better-than-expected in November after surging in the previous month. U.S. markets will be closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. CIMB Research said "prices should climb and take out 3,230 on the way up to test 3,300-3,340." Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index rose 14.31 points to 3,186.37 points. Trading volume was 1.27 billion shares worth 692 million Singapore dollars. Advancers outnumbered decliners 229 to 159, while 566 stocks did not move. Interra Resources jumped 5.1 percent to 41.5 Singapore cents. The upstream oil and gas firm's latest development well in the Tanjung Miring Timur field in Indonesia has achieved a flow rate of 650 barrels of oil a day. The firm currently has an average shareable production of 1,904 barrels a day. China Aviation Oil closed flat at 1.005 Singapore dollars. Asia 's top jet fuel buyer is seeking up to 1.6 million barrels of jet fuel for delivery over late December to January. This is about 30 percent higher than what the company has been requiring every month over the past two tenders. CapitaLand rose 0.3 percent to 3.02 Singapore dollars. CIMB Research said "(its) asset build is on track and retail footfalls are encouraging," adding that "Its attitude of improving returns at the project level is also a positive." The research house has an "outperform" rating and a target price of 3.96 Singapore dollars on CapitaLand. Among top gainers, Jardine Matheson rose 0.9 percent to 50.87 U. S. dollars, while Jardine Cycle and Carriage became one of the top losers by falling 1.1 percent to 34.93 Singapore dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals to 1.26 Singapore dollars)