SINGAPORE, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Singapore stocks closed higher on Wednesday, with the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) went up 0.48 percent or 17.16 points to close at 3609.24.

A total of 2.19 billion shares changed hands with a turnover of 1.62 billion Singapore dollars (about 1.23 billion U.S. dollars). Gainers outnumbered losers by 252 to 210.

The STI index closed up 0.63 percent or 22.65 points to close at 3592.08 on Tuesday.