Singapore shares closed just a tad lower on Thursday amid quiet trading, with the benchmark Straits Times Index dipping 3.19 points, or 0.10 per cent, to 3,202.10.

Some 1.8 billion shares worth $807.8 million were done.

Major regional markets all finished lower, with Japan down 0.76 per cent, Hong Kong 0.68 per cent behind and Shanghai 0.48 per cent back.

Here, 15 of the 30 STI component counters retreated, with just nine gainers and six unchanged.

Among the losers were casino operator Genting Singapore, down four cents to $1.47.

The gainers included Keppel Corp, which soared nine cents to $10.93 for its best close in five months, on news of its US$1.1 billion contract win to build five rigs.