SINGAPORE (Jan 7): Singapore shares snapped two straight sessions of hefty losses, with blue chips and penny stocks alike attracting buyers.

The Straits Times Index climbed 0.5% to 3,298.36, off an intraday high of 3,310.

Some 1.86 billion shares worth $1.08 billion changed hands, compared with 1.36 billion shares worth $1.24 billion on Tuesday.

Gainers outnumbered decliners 217 to 181.

Among blue chips, key gainers were Hongkong Land, up 4.8% at US$7.19, Thai Beverage, up 3.7% at 71 cents, CapitaMall Trust, up 3% at $2.08, and Singapore Airlines, up 2.4% at $11.96.

Penny stocks, including the three that crashed in October 2013, were heavily traded.

Blumont Group was the most active stock in the market, with 140 million shares traded. It ended flat at 2.2 cents after having risen to 2.7 cents earlier in the day.

Asiasons Capital rose 6.7% to 3.2 cents on a volume of 32.6 million shares, while LionGold Corp, which rose as much as 25% in intraday trade, ended flat at 2.4 cents with 91.3 million shares changing hands.  

JES International was just as active, rising 11.8% to 3.8 cents on a volume of 123.3 million shares.

The run-up prompted queries from the Singapore Exchange, to which JES, a China-based shipbuilder, said it was not aware of any reason for the strong interest.

Offshore and marine stocks ended mixed amid persistent weakness in oil prices, which have sunk below US$50 a barrel.

Sembcorp Marine retreated 0.6% to $3.11 while Keppel Corp put on 0.4% to $8.35.

Among lower liners, Ezion Holdings shed 0.4% to $1.125, Ezra Holdings gained 0.9% to 53.5 cents, and Swiber Holdings, Nam Cheong and Swissco Holdings were flat at 23.5 cents, 32 cents and 50.5 cents respectively.