Singapore: Shares close 0.3% down

Local shares slipped a further 0.3 per cent on Wednesday as a continued sell-off in commodities deepened fears of a slowdown in China's economy.

The blue-chip Straits Times Index lost 8.4 points to 3,041.2, weighed down by banks.

About 1.51 billion shares worth S$1.17 billion in total changed hands, which worked out to an average unit price of S$0.77 per share.

The most actively traded stock was commodities group Noble, which eked out a S$0.01 rise to S$0.425 with 153.8 million shares changing hands. Other actives included Stratech Group and Ezra.

Losers outnumbered gainers 325 to 137, or about seven down for every three up.