1. The Nikkei Singapore purchasing managers' index rose to 52 in March, up from 51.6 in February, signalling an improvement in operating conditions faced by private sector firms.

2. There is valuation concern within China's technology industry after investors piled into the sector in the past couple of years, said Temasek China head Wu Yibing, Bloomberg reported.

3. Sunmart's auditors said its short-term bank borrowings at 395.9 million yuan (S$82.9 million) far exceeded the cash and cash equivalents of 110.5 million yuan as at Dec 31, casting doubt on whether the firm can remain a going concern.

4. OCBC Bank bought back 200,000 of its own shares yesterday. The price was $8.69 a share and the total amount outlaid was $1.74 million.

5. Food player Select Group has set up a wholly owned subsidiary, RM Food Manufacturing, in Singapore. It will manufacture cooked-food preparations and sauces.