Singapore Hot Stocks-IPOs Mercator and KTL Global in focus

SINGAPORE, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Mercator Lines (Singapore) MRTL.SI and KTL Global KTLG.SI may be in focus after they make their trading debut at 9 a.m. on Friday. Mercator raised S$205.3 million in its initial public offering while KTL raised S$11.2 million.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose on Thursday after economic bellwether Honeywell International raised its profit forecast, offsetting doubts about whether a global plan to thaw credit markets could work.

Stocks and factors to watch.

• Indian shipping firm Mercator Lines (Singapore) will start trade at 9 a.m. after fetching S$0.76 per share at its initial public offering.
• Rigging equipment firm KTL Global will commence trade at 9 a.m. after fetching S$0.28 per share in its initial public offering which was approximately 11.2 times subscribed.
• ElectroTech Investments, a manufacturer of electronic components, has issued a profit warning for its 2007 results, citing a decline in orders for mobile phone keypads and slower sales for its office automation products.
• Deutsche Bank has raised its target price for shares of Singapore Exchange to S$18.00 from S$7.50 and kept its "buy" rating on the stock, citing a robust outlook for transaction turnover and the possibility of mergers and acquisitions in the industry.
• Construction firm Koh Brothers Group said it has won a S$78.9 million contract ($55 million) from the government to build a local school and a hostel. The project is expected to be completed by August 2009.
• Chinese shipbuilding firm Yangzijiang Shipbuilding said it has increased its investment in one of its units by 512.6 million yuan ($70 million). The additional investment will be funded by cash.
• Real estate firm ARA Asset Management ARAM.SI posted a 22 percent gain in net profit to S$3.7 million for its third quarter ending September 30. Revenue was up 27 percent to S$9.4 million.
• Singapore Airlines reiterated it has not bid for Alitalia, denying comments by the ailing Italian carrier that it is part of a consortium that has expressed bidding interest.
• Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing reiterated its fourth-quarter outlook of net profit in the range of $1 million to $11 million on revenue of $334 million to $346 million.
• Singapore's politicians, already among the best paid in the world, will get a salary hike next year with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong enjoying a 21 percent rise to S$3.76 million ($2.61 million), state radio said.
• Singapore's Straits Times Index slipped 1.97 percent to 3,479.31 points on Thursday.
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 0.33 percent to end at 13,517.96. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 0.10 percent to 2,668.49.