SINGAPORE (Dec 31): The following stocks may be in focus today:

The chief executive of embattled commodity trader Noble Group defended its financial position after what it called an "unexpected" move by Moody's Investors Service to cut its credit rating to junk status, slamming its stocks and bonds.

Keppel Group has completed a share swap with Mapletree Investments that would see Keppel holding full control of office building Keppel Bay Tower.

Sembcorp has injected equity worth around RMB925 million ($201 million) for a 49% stake in the JV, a sum financed by internal funds.

StarHub has secured a multi-year agreement for the rights to broadcast the Spanish Primera Liga matches. The games will be shown in high definition on StarHub TV and on StarHub Go.

Serrano expects to post a net loss for FY2015 ending Dec 31, which it attributes to the performance of its interior fit-out business.

A board reshuffle at industrial landlord Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (A-REIT) will see the CEO of urban solutions provider Ascendas-Singbridge Miguel Ko coming onboard as vice-chairman.

Markets

U.S. stock indexes were marginally lower on Wednesday, as Brent crude retreated to near 11-year low. At 9:44 a.m. ET (1444 GMT), the Dow was down 53.76 points or 0.3% at 17,667.22; the S&P 500 was down 6.47 points or 0.31% at 2,071.89; and the Nasdaq Composite index was down 13.34 points or 0.26% at 5,094.59.

The Straits Times Index closed 0.09%, or 2.79 points, lower at 2,885.51. In the broader market, about 922.5 million shares with a value of $533.7 million were traded. Losers outnumbered gainers 212 to 188.