TOKYO, Oct 24: Most Asian shares were higher on Wednesday despite small declines in Tokyo and New York.
Share prices in Tokyo declined 0.5 per cent after investors took profits on selected hi-tech stocks after a three-day rally.
The Nikkei 225 average of the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed down 59.41 points at 10,802.15. But the Topix of all issues on the first section of the stock exchange rose 4.48 points to 1,100.22.
Selling pressure strengthened further in late trading after players were disappointed that the Nikkei index failed to top 11,000 points, Kawata said.
HONG KONG: Share prices rose 0.2 per cent in cautious pre-holiday trade following selective buying.
The key Hang Seng index gained 23.62 points to close at 10,243.46.
The market will be closed on Thursday for a public holiday.
Josephine Hui, director of Celestial Asia Securities, said the Hang Seng index lacked clear direction with most investors cautious prior to the public holiday.
SYDNEY: The Australian share market closed one per cent higher after investors bought News Corp stock.
The All Ordinaries index rose 32.8 points to 3,182.1 while the SP/ASX 200 climbed 32.7 points to 3,246.0.
There seems to be plenty of buying out there. I suppose we’re seen as a strong economy, Macquarie Equities senior financial adviser Michael Rosenbaum said.
SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices closed 0.8 per cent higher on selective buying of blue chip stocks. The Straits Times Index gained 11.71 points to 1,417.20.
A joint statement by SembCorp Industries and Keppel Corp. that talks were ongoing to explore cooperation opportunities also lifted sentiment but this was expected to be shortlived, said the dealer.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian stocks closed 0.4 per cent higher amid moderate support for some blue chips in late trade.
The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange’s composite index rose 2.78 points to 616.40 led by late gains in Genting and Sime Dabry shares.
MUMBAI: Share prices closed 0.7 per cent lower on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on large trader and fund selling after Satyam Computer projected lower earnings growth for the current year.
The benchmark 30-share BSE sensitive index shed 21.75 points to close at 3,040.16.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares closed 1.5 per cent lower after the rupiah’s falls, with the prevailing poor long-term sentiment encouraging investors to lock in profits from gains over the past eight days.
The rupiah was at 10,220/10,240 to the dollar just before the close, against Tuesday’s closing of 10,145/10,155.
WELLINGTON: A takeover bid for energy drink maker Frucor Beverages Ltd. helped lift New Zealand shares half a per cent.
The NZSE40 index rose 9.05 points to 1,904.93 on modest turnover of US$22.4 million.
The day started off pretty weakly, then firmed especially with the likes of Sky City, Warehouse and Telecom, which came up from a new low, said client adviser Stephen Wright of ASB Securities.—AFP
