Singapore shares rise 0.9%

THE Singapore stock market finished 0.9 per cent higher on Wednesday, with the benchmark Straits Times Index moving up 25.4 points to 2,840.92.

The blue-chip index rallied as investors awaited news of what is widely expected to be the United States Federal Reserve's first interest rate hike since 2006.

About 945.2 million shares worth S$980.7 million in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$1.04 per share.

The most actively traded stock was commodities group Noble, which rose S$0.03 to S$0.420 with 67.6 million shares changing hands. Other actives included New Silkroutes and Golden Agri-Resources.

Gainers outnumbered losers 235 to 160, or about three up for every two down.