Stock Market

Singapore shares closed 2.54 percent higher on Tuesday after a US move to clean its banks of toxic debt boosted confidence, dealers said. The blue chip Straits Times Index (STI) climbed 42.26 points to 1,706.34 on volume of 1.70 billion shares worth 1.54 billion Singapore dollars (1.02 billion US). Gainers led losers 291 to 163, with 810 issues unchanged.