COMMODITIES companies helped the local stock market to modest gains on Tuesday, amid wider regional weakness ahead of a United States jobs report.

The blue-chip Straits Times Index rose 14.45 points or 0.45 per cent to 3,210.21.

Commodities company Noble Group rose 2.5 cents or 2.4 per cent to $1.055. During session the stock rose as much as 3.9 per cent to $1.07 - the highest level in about five months.

Palm oil firm Wilmar International gained 10 cents or 3 per cent to $3.44 and soft commodities company Olam International climbed six cents or 4 per cent to $1.565.

Elsewhere in the region, Hong Kong fell 0.5 per cent and Shanghai was behind by 0.8 per cent. Kuala Lumpur edged up 0.05 per cent, helped by plantation owners Felda Global Ventures Holdings and Sime Darby.