Shares on the Singapore bourse slipped in morning trade on Thursday, as investors awaited economic news from the United States that might shed more light on the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing tapering schedule.

The benchmark Straits Times Index lost 26.3 points, or 0.8 per cent, as at 12.50pm.

But gainers narrowly pipped losers 181 to 176, with 446 counters unchanged.

A total of 2.1 million shares worth $576.1 million changed hands.

Top gainers included Great Eastern Holdings, up 13 cents to $17.71, while UOB was among the top losers, slipping 44 cents to $21.54.