1 Nestle is in talks to merge its international ice cream business with R&R Ice Cream in a €3 billion (S$4.8 billion) deal, as the world's biggest packaged food firm focuses more closely on its higher-performing brands, reported Reuters.

2 Construction firm Chip Eng Seng bought two properties in Victoria, Australia for A$27 million (S$27.2 million) through one of its units. The properties have a total site area of 17,857 sq m.

3 Commodities rose yesterday after a beat-down in recent weeks. Brent crude oil climbed more than 1 per cent to about US$48.75 (S$69.80) per barrel, while copper rose 1.12 per cent to about US$235.15 per pound.

4 Britain's finance ministry said it will sell at least £2 billion (S$4.3 billion) worth of shares in Lloyds Banking Group to private retail investors in spring 2016 to return the bank to full private ownership.

5 Singapore Exchange (SGX) announced the launch of SGX Index Edge, its index business that will create and offer index services tailored for issuers, asset managers and investors in Asia.