The local stock market continued its sideways trend on Wednesday, ending flat even as neighbouring markets rallied on added stimulus from China's central bank.

The benchmark Straits Times Index slipped just 0.02 points, to 3.133.74.

In contrast, China's Shanghai Composite Index rose 2.2 per cent, the most in two months, as the nation's money-market rates dropped for a second day after the central bank added more than US$42 billion to the financial system and expanded a lending facility to smaller banks to meet Lunar New Year money demand.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of mainland companies in Hong Kong advanced 1.1 per cent, while the city's benchmark Hang Seng Index gained 0.2 per cent. Taiwan's Taiex index and South Korea's Kospi index both added 0.3 per cent.

Some 3.9 billion shares changed hands at home, valued at $1.05 billion.

There were 164 gainers, versus 201 losers.

Penny stock KLW was the top active, slipping 0.3 cents to 4.3 cents on a turnover of 999.5 million shares.