Singapore shares little changed at midday

Singapore shares were unchanged by noon, slipping just 4.06 points or 0.13 per cent, to 3,169.45.

There were 657.8 million shares that swapped hands, valued at $294 million.

Asian stocks have been swinging between gains and losses after United states consumer confidence unexpectedly dropped this month and as an advance among information technology shares was offset by declines at raw material companies.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was little changed at 141.60 as of 11:33 a.m. in Hong Kong, having swung between a loss of 0.2 per cent and a gain of 0.1 per cent. The gauge gained 9.5 per cent this year through yesterday as central banks around the world pledged to leave interest rates near record lows for a prolonged period.

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