SINGAPORE, July 1 (PNA/Xinhua) — Singapore shares closed 0.42 percent higher on Wednesday, after Greece became the first developed economy to default on a loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), perhaps taking it a step closer to an exit from the euro.
The IMF said Greece had asked for a last-minute repayment extension earlier on Tuesday, which the Fund’s board would consider “in due course.” European finance ministers will confer later on Wednesday over Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ request for a new two-year loan to pay debts that amount to nearly 30 billion euros.
The benchmark Straits Times Index rose 13.81 points to close at 3,331.14 points. Trading volume was 909 million shares worth 925 million Singapore dollars. Advancers narrowly outnumbered decliners 209 to 208, while 545 stocks closed unchanged.
Among top actives, OEL (Holdings) rose 2.4 percent to 4.3 Singapore cents. It signed sale and purchase agreement to enter the oil and gas business via the acquisition of 51 percent stake in Allied Resources. Allied Resources indirectly holds 50 percent interest in Qian An, a joint venture company that is principally engaged in the exploitation, development and production of oil and natural gas from two oilfields in Jilin, China.
The remaining 50 percent interest in Qian An is held by PetroChina Company Limited. The consideration for the proposed acquisition is approximately 18.2 million Singapore dollars, which is to be satisfied by cash of 11.9 million Singapore dollars and by way of issue of new shares at 7.5 Singapore cents per share, amounting to an aggregate value of 6.3 million Singapore dollars.
Mapletree Logistics Trust rose 0.4 percent to 1.135 Singapore dollars. It announced the proposed acquisition of Coles Chilled Distribution Centre (Coles CDC), a premium freehold cold store warehouse located in Eastern Creek, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, for a purchase consideration of approximately 261.5 million Singapore dollars. Coles CDC is 100-percent leased to a tenant with a long lease term of 19 years and built-in rental increase.
Among the top gainers, Jardine Strategic rose 2.6 percent to 31. 07 U.S. dollars, while Jardine Cycle and Carriage dropped 2.8 percent to 32.16 Singapore dollars. (1 U.S. dollar equals to 0.898 euros and 1.35 Singapore dollars) (PNA/Xinhua)