October's first COE bidding exercise saw a mix of results, with Category A clocking the greatest hike of $1,880. While most consumers and industry experts expect a hike in COE quota in the coming months, interest and demand for small cars continue to stay strong - which is a likely attribute to the climb in prices.

Category A COE premiums, for cars with engine displacement of up to 1,600cc and no more than 130bhp, had a 2.94 percent hike, amounting to $1,880, to end today's session at $63,880.

Premiums for Category B COEs - for cars with engine capacities above 1,600cc or power output exceeding 130bhp - experienced a miniscule increase of $190 after a slight slump in the previous exercise. Premiums ended at $72,180 - a difference of less than one percent. 

Only premiums for Category E, also known as the Open Category, dropped at today's bidding, reporting the widest difference of 3.74 percent or $2,798, and closed at $72,003.

All eyes are now on the next announcement of the COE quota in mid-October where the COE quota between November 2014 to January 2015 is expected to be larger than the current quarter's - which will help to ease off COE prices.