SINGAPORE - Singapore shares retreated on Thursday after a two-day rally, dropping 18.96 points, or 0.57 per cent, to 3,315.6.

Trading was muted, with just 934.1 million shares worth $806.6 million changing hands.

There were 134 gainers, versus 232 losers.

The sombre mood was reflected across the region, with Asian shares mostly down as another round of weak manufacturing data underlined the slowdown in China's economy, while minutes from the United States Federal Reserve's latest meeting gave few hints about its plans for interest rates.

Tokyo ended flat, Seoul fell 0.45 per cent and Sydney sank 0.98 per cent. Hong Kong lost 0.1 per cent while Shanghai was flat, edging up just 1.67 points.

The most active stock at home was IHC, ending flat at 27.5 cents on a turnover of 89.6 million shares.