Noble

Noble: +3.3% at $1.265 in strong vol, easily the best-performing STI component. Analysts say they aren't aware of a specific trigger for the climb. Notes there's a little more confidence on China, and while volume is high, it may merely be that volume begets volume. Add that media reports Friday that Indonesia decided not to implement a proposal to ban low-grade coal exports. Noble is involved in coal exports out of Indonesia, but adds it's kind of a stretch to read that across to a 3% increase in the shares today. On whether optimism on China could be boosting Noble's shares, notes Wilmar is more of a direct play on the China story than Noble. Additionally, the fundamentals for Wilmar look pretty good, while for Noble they look mixed heading into the fourth-quarter reporting season. Noble may meet resistance around $1.85, its Nov. 8 high before reporting 3Q12 results which disappointed investors. Wilmar is up 1.3% at $3.89.