Baltic Index Edges Higher on Stronger Capesize Demand

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, edged up for a second consecutive session on Monday, supported by growing demand for capesize vessels.

* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose 3 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,522 points.

* The capesize index rose 81 points or 3.2 percent, to 2,607 points, its highest since early September.

* Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 170,000-180,000 tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, rose $337 to $19,415.

* The panamax index fell 27 points, or 1.7 percent, to 1,556 points.

* Average daily earnings for panamaxes, which usually carry coal or grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, decreased $213 to $12,469.

* The supramax index fell 11 points to 1,106 points.

(Reuters, Reporting by K. Sathya Narayanan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)