Singapore stocks finished higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) up 17.63 points, or 0.56 percent, to close at 3,147.12. A total of 1.51 billion shares changed hands with turnover of 794.8 million Singapore dollars (625.8 million U.S. dollars). Gainers outnumbered losers 289 to 138, while 523 others finished unchanged. The STI index lost 43.83 points, or 1.38 percent, to close at 3, 129.49 on Wednesday.