* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, added 29 points, or about 2.2%, to 1,327 - its highest since Dec. 23.
* Period activity was healthy across all sectors with a healthy volume of deals materializing, shipbroker Intermodal wrote in a weekly report, referring to the overall index.
* The capesize index gained 79 points, or about 5.4%, to a more than eight-week high of 1,550.
* Average daily earnings for capesizes , which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, increased $650 to $12,851.
* Dalian iron ore extended gains on Wednesday as market participants bet on the prospect of the demand for steel picking up since China has entered its peak construction season.
* The panamax index gained 12 points at 1,592, its highest since Dec. 21.
* Average daily earnings for panamaxes , which usually carry coal or
grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, was up $106 to $14,325.
* The supramax index was unchanged at 1,161.
(Reporting by Ananya Bajpai in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)
