Singapore shares close 0.4% lower

SHARE prices in the Singapore bourse extended their declines with the key Straits Times Index slipping 14.8 points or 0.4 per cent to finish at 3,533.99 on Wednesday.

The losses were led by an extended sell-off in Wall Street overnight and ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee rate decision tonight.

Some 2.3 billion shares worth S$1.9 billion were traded versus Tuesday's 3.2 billion shares worth S$1.6 billion. Losers outpaced gainers with 256 counters down and 195 counters up.