SINGAPORE shares rose on Monday as robust car sales and industrial production figures from China ignited optimism over growth on the mainland.

The benchmark Straits Times Index increased 9.47 points or 0.3 per cent to 3,186.72.

Investors were also weighing the latest jobless figures from the United States. Last Friday's figures showed the US economy adding a massive 204,000 jobs in October, while the August and September jobs numbers were also revised upwards.

While the signs of recovery in the jobs market are heartening, it also raises the risks of the US Federal Reserve slowing its money-printing programme.

Among the STI's palm oil companies, Wilmar International added seven cents or 2.1 per cent to $3.45 but Golden Agri-Resources eased one cent or 1.7 per cent to 56.5 cents.