* The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and
supramax shipping vessels, gained 5 points to 1,489.
* The index, however, was down about 3% for the week, its most since the
week ended Feb. 17.
* The capesize index rose 26 points, or about 1.4%, to 1,882.
Although, the index lost 1.6% for the week.
* Average daily earnings for capesizes , which typically transport
150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, increased $215 to $15,611.
* Dalian and Singapore iron ore futures rebounded in afternoon trading as
sentiment improved, helped by data showing that inventories at Chinese ports
continued to fall in the past week.
* The panamax index fell 12 points to 1,572. The index was down 8.8%
for the week - its biggest weekly percentage fall since Feb. 3.
* Average daily earnings for panamaxes , which usually carry coal or
grain cargoes of about 60,000 to 70,000 tonnes, decreased $111 to $14,149.
* Among smaller vessels, the supramax index edged up 1 point to
1,332. It was up for the sixth consecutive week.
(Reporting by Ananya Bajpai in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
March 24 (Reuters) - The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index edged higher on Friday on stronger demand in the larger capesize vessel
segment, although it marked its first weekly decline in five.
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