The local market was little changed on Wednesday amid another episode of anaemic volumes on the bourse.

The benchmark Straits Times Index slipped 1.45 points or 0.05 per cent to 3,172.06.

This came as volumes fell to 1.63 billion shares worth $730 million - down from Tuesday's already-weak 1.64 billion shares worth $907 million.

Even the most popular blue chips had their volumes hit by the year-end lull.

Singapore's largest bank DBS Group Holdings fell 10 cents or 0.6 per cent to $17 as 1.76 million shares changed hands. That volume was much lower than the counter's daily average over the past year, of 4.01 million shares.