Singapore equities fell for a second session on Wednesday, as investors braced for caution ahead of the testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.
Asian shares edged higher, with the MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up 0.4 percent.
Chair Janet Yellen will submit Federal Reserve's semi-annual Monetary Policy Report to Congress later today. Her testimony will provide clues on when the central bank would tighten U.S. monetary policy.
The Straits Times Index fell 0.32 percent or 10 points to 3,208. It ended 0.85 percent lower on Tuesday, taking the year-to-date gains to 11.7 percent.
Among the losers, DBS Group declined 0.7 percent while Singapore Telecommunications shed 0.5 percent.
Shares of United Engineers, Perennial and Yanlord were halted from Singapore trading on Wednesday.
Yanlord Land Group is partnering with Perennial Real Estate Holdings in a bid for Singapore property group United Engineers, Bloomberg reported citing sources.
Commodity trader Noble Group rose for a second session, gaining nearly 2 percent after Goldilocks Investment Company raised its stake in the firm.
About 2.1 billion shares worth S$1.1 billion changed hands, with losers outnumbering gainers 210 to 208.
