AIO Finance Analysis

Energy-related stocks such as rig-builder SembCorp Marine and palm oil firm Wilmar may be in focus on Tuesday as the price of oil closed in on $100 per barrel due to speculation that OPEC will cut supply at a meeting next week.

U.S. stocks rose more than 1 percent on Monday on signs that the two largest U.S. bond insurers would stabilise, bringing a wave of relief to a market dogged by concerns of further bank write-downs.

Stocks and factors to watch:
- Singapore Telecommunications said that it has entered an agreement with five international telecommunications carriers to build a ultra high-speed cable system worth $300 million.
- JPMorgan has upgraded Chartered Semiconductor to "neutral" from "underweight", citing its recent acquisition of Hitachi Semiconductor Singapore wafer plant as a good move for the firm to diversify its client base.
- Commodities trader Noble said the firm has bought a 19.6 percent stake in a unit of Macarthur Coal worth A$48.5 million ($45 million).
- Chinese shipbuilder Yangzijiang said its full-year net profit rose 91 percent for the year ended Dec 31, 2007.
- Cruise operator Star Cruises posted a loss of $123.5 million for the full-year 2007.
- Coal mining firm Straits Asia Resources said its full-year net profit fell by 40.7 percent for year ended Dec 31, 2007

Source: Reuters