Singapore stocks rose on Tuesday, regaining some of the previous session's sharp losses amid cautious trading as bargain hunters stepped in.

The benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) rallied 13.63 points, or 0.43 per cent, to 3,181.50, clawing back about a third of Monday's 1.3 per cent plunge. Some 3.7 billion shares worth $1.1 billion changed hands.

A slightly upbeat mood was prevalent among major regional markets, with Japan up 0.2 per cent, South Korea adding 0.1 per cent and Taiwan 0.16 per cent higher.

Back home, 20 of the 30 STI component stocks ended higher, with nine losers and just one unchanged.

The day's most active counter was YHM Group, which gained 0.1 cent to 6.2 cents with 515.9 million units done.