SINGAPORE stocks slid slightly on Thursday as the United States government shutdown continued for a third day, shrugging off a positive lead from Hong Kong.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) dipped 7.79 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 3,144.79. Some 3.2 billion shares worth $1.2 billion were done.

Key regional markets mostly ended mildly higher, with Hong Kong shining prominently with a 1 per cent gain, buoyed by upbeat sentiment on the Macau casino and Chinese consumer sectors.

Taiwan stocks soared 1.73 per cent while Australia edged up 0.37 per cent.

Here, the 30 STI constituent stocks finished mostly lower, with 17 losers, eight gainers and five unchanged.

The day's most active counter was Ipco International which fell 0.3 cent to 3.2 cents with 219 million shares done.