Singapore stocks finished higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) up 19.49 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 2,813.48.

A total of 1.42 billion shares changed hands with turnover of 1.22 billion Singapore dollars (862.8 million U.S. dollars).

Gainers outnumbered decliners 204 to 197, while 504 others finished unchanged.

The STI index lost 3.56 points, or 0.13 percent, to close at 2,793.99 on Wednesday.