Singapore shares dipped 0.7 per cent by midday on Tuesday, with the benchmark Straits Times Index losing 23.8 points to 3,217.9 by 12.25pm.

A total of 610.9 million shares changed hands worth $424.1 million in all.

Losers outnumbered gainers 206 to 120,w ith 475 counters unchanged.

Top gainers included United Overseas Insurance, which rose 11 cents to $4.33, while top losers included DBS, down 37 cents to $17.03.