SINGAPORE - Catch up on the morning's top business headlines in Singapore with The Straits Times Money Desk's daily update.

1. Inflation in Singapore jumped to 1.2 per cent last month, rebounding from a four-year low of 0.4 per cent in February. The prices of food, recreation, housing, education and healthcare all rose in March from a year ago, according to data released on Wednesday by the Singapore Department of Statistics.

2. CapitaMall Trust to pay Q1 distribution per unit of 2.57 cents, up 4.5% from last year. Gross revenue for the trust rose 5.8 per cent in the first quarter to $164.7 million, on the back of higher revenue after renovations at IMM and Bugis Junction as well as increased rentals at other malls.

3. China manufacturing activity ticks up in April but still contracts. The HSBC/Markit flash Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) showed contractions in new orders and output moderated somewhat, though new export orders slipped back below the 50 line after a pickup in March, suggesting that the external environment remains difficult for Chinese firms.