As a scuffle between India's Fortis and Malaysian sovereign fund Khazanah to take over healthcare provider Parkway Holdings drags on, a fall in the Dow is likely to give Singapore stocks a tepid start.

After the Federal Reserve demoted its assessment of the economic upturn as it vowed to keep cheap money flowing, the U.S. stocks mostly fell in a variable session.

Malaysian autonomous fund Khazanah's $835 million fractional invasion tender for the Singapore healthcare firm was not convincing, putting weight on Khazanah to up its offer, said an independent consultant to Parkway.

There was no certainty that shareholders would receive the offer price and the offer price of S$3.78 thought was reasonable but not persuasive, said Morgan Stanley.

Malvinder Singh, Chairman of the Fortis group and Parkway's board, delineated his apparition in relation to the Asian healthcare industry, and how to synergize the two groups' business. He however, did not remark on Khazanah's proffer or on whether Fortis would mount a counter-offer for Parkway.

The worldwide copper supply chain manager said it received sanction in principle from the swap for the placement of 7.02 million new shares to list on the main board. Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index fell 0.04% on Wednesday to 2,871.05 points.