SINGAPORE - Local shares took another tumble on Wednesday after consumer confidence in the United States unexpectedly declined and Hong Kong braced itself for bigger protests as Chinese holidays started.

The Straits Times Index fell 12.65 points, or 0.39 per cent, to 3,264.09.

Some 1.03 billion shares changed hands worth $695.4 million.

Mirach Energy was the top active, staying flat at 17 cents on a turnover of 55.3 million shares.

"The slowdown in China remains a big concern, with retail sales and manufacturing remaining weak," Mr Desmond Chua, a strategist at CMC Markets in Singapore, told Bloomberg.

"Investors are also worried about the timing of US interest rates and what's happening in Hong Kong."

Hong Kong markets were closed for a holiday.