SINGAPORE - Local shares made modest gains on Thursday as punters slowly moved back into the trading ring after lacklustre sessions earlier in the week.

The benchmark Straits Times Index rose 17.03 points, or 0.52 per cent, to 3,278.57.

Overall volumes remained rather thin, with just 1.75 billion shares worth $811.7 million changing hands.

Semiconductor firm Stats ChipPac was in the spotlight, rising eight cents to 61.5 cents on a turnover of 59 million.

Most regional bourses also ended higher. Tokyo gained 0.3 per cent, Seoul rose 0.7 per cent, Hong Kong surged 1.5 per cent and Sydney advanced 1.2 per cent.