October 16, 2001	Tuesday	Rajab 28, 1422

TOKYO, Oct 15: Asian shares ended mostly lower on Monday, dragged lower by declines on Wall Street and caution among investors over possible bio-terror attacks in the United States.

Share prices in Tokyo fell 1.7 per cent, hit by a slack performance on Wall Street and selling to lock in profits on the previous week’s gains.

The Nikkei 225 average of the Tokyo Stock Exchange declined 179.81 points to 10,452.54. The Topix of all issues on the first section of the stock exchange fell 15.70 points to 1,071.78.

Trading was thin with volume estimated at 502 million shares against 966 million on Friday.

The Tokyo market lost ground due to a halt in the advances of United States stocks, Nikko Securities broker Hiroichi Nishi said.

Investors also moved for selling to take profits as the (Nikkei) index climbed more than four percent over last week, Nishi said.

The market direction will depend on whether electrical and precision machinery issues will resist further falls, he said.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices slipped 1.4 per cent after a weaker performance on Wall Street.

The key Hang Seng index lost 143.54 points to close at 10,130.59.

SYDNEY: Australian shares fell 0.8 per cent with profit-taking in global media group News Corp. driven by Wall Street declines.

The All Ordinaries index dropped 25.1 points to 3,133.9 while the SP/ASX 200 fell 26.1 points to close at 3,199.0.

SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices closed marginally firmer amid thin interest in selected blue chip stocks.

The Straits Times Index finished up 4.54 points, or 0.3 per cent, at 1,420.78.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian stocks closed 1.2 per cent higher as investors remain upbeat that the upcoming 2002 budget will offer more incentives to stimulate business.

MUMBAI: Indian share prices closed half-a-per cent higher on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in lacklustre trade led by a few old economy stocks amid regional weakness and ahead of key corporate results due this week.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks closed up 0.4 per cent on modest turnover influenced by a takeover bid for Contact Energy.

The NZSE40 index added 7.31 points to 1,910.01 on turnover of US$29.5m.

Contact ended up seven cents at 3.97, against parent company Edison Mission’s takeover offer of $3.85 per share.—AFP