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TOKYO, Jan 30: Stocks fell throughout much of Asia on Wednesday following heavy overnight losses on Wall Street with the situation in Japan exacerbated by the sacking of foreign minister Makiko Tanaka.
Tokyo shares tumbled below 10,000 points with investor sentiment affected by the political confusion following Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s shock decision to dismiss Tanaka, said dealers.
The Nikkei-225 average of the Tokyo Stock Exchange lost 1.1 per cent or 106.55 points to end at 9,919.48. It was the first time the benchmark index had fallen below 10,000 points since November 13.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed 2.3 per cent lower on the back of the losses on Wall Street, dealers said.
Profit taking was strong in China Mobile, China Unicom and many property stocks, with futures-related selling also likely to have contributed to the market’s declines.
The key Hang Seng index lost 257.28 points to close at 10,756.96 on turnover of US$997 million.
SYDNEY: The Australian share market slipped 0.6 per cent as investors opted to take profits following the heavy overnight falls in New York, brokers said.
The All Ordinaries index closed 18.5 points lower at 3,374.2 while the SP/ASX 200 ended the session 19.4 points weaker at 3,433.5.
SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices closed 0.9 per cent lower after the heavy falls on Wall Street, dealers said.
The Straits Times Index fell 15.63 points to 1,755.61.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.5pc higher on mild bargain-hunting and institutional support, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange composite index rose 3.68 points to finish at 710.00.
A local institutional dealer said the market opened lower in a knee-jerk reaction to Wall Street’s losses but turned positive with institutional support.—AFP
