Singapore stocks finished higher on Tuesday, with the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) up 11.96 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 3,296.57. A total of 2.68 billion shares changed hands with turnover of 1. 19 billion Singapore dollars (959.7 million U.S. dollars).Gainers outnumbered losers 258 to 173, while 519 others finished unchanged. The STI index lost 15.17 points, or 0.46 percent, to close at 3, 284.61 on Monday.

Growth in Singapore's trade-reliant economy slowed down sharply last year, expanding 1.3 percent as exports tumbled due to a global economic slump, official data showed Friday. Although full-year growth was marginally higher than the 1.2 percent figure given by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last month based on preliminary data, it still marked a steep deceleration from the 5.2 percent expansion in 2011. The key manufacturing sector bore the brunt of the slowdown, as global demand for electronics goods softened.

Feb 4 (Reuters) - SGX, the Singapore stock exchange, is in talks to buy a stake in clearing house LCH.Clearnet, the Financial Times reported on Monday citing three people familiar with the situation. The Asian exchange may participate in the London Stock Exchange Group's purchase of LCH or buy a separate stake, the Financial Times reported. The three parties are discussing the structure of the deal.