HONG KONG, April 11: Asian stocks closed mostly lower on Monday, tracking a weaker Wall Street despite easier oil prices, with Tokyo hit as anti-Japanese protests in China badly unsettled investors, dealers said. They said trade was cautious overall, with investors content to use Wall Street’s downturn Friday as an excuse to take profits on the modest bounce seen over the past week.
On the day, Tokyo lost 1.09 per cent as investors fretted over the weekend anti-Japanese protests in China, the country’s biggest trade partner.
TOKYO: Japanese share prices closed 1.09 per cent lower amid concerns at the potential impact of large anti-Japanese protests in China, the country’s largest trading partner, over the weekend, dealers said.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index fell 129.11 points to 11,745.64. The broader TOPIX index of all first section shares dropped 11.18 points or 0.93pc to 1,190.12.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed flat in thin trade as many investors sat on the sidelines awaiting a clearer lead after recent corporate results, dealers said.
SYDNEY: Australian share prices closed 0.8 per cent lower, in line with subdued regional markets amid caution over high oil prices and a possible rise in interest rates, dealers said.
The SP/ASX 200 ended down 32.9 points to 4,132.6 while the broader All Ordinaries index shed 32.7 points to 4,115.8.
Volume was 713 million shares worth 2.4 billion Australian dollars ((1.85 billion US), with 595 stocks down, 364 up and 308 unchanged.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed little changed as the market shrugged off data showing a lacklustre performance for the city-state’s economy in the first quarter of the year, dealers said.
The Straits Times Index ended 0.36 points lower at 2,181.58, off a low of 2,172.26 on volume of 539 million shares worth 466 million Singapore dollars (282 million US). Losers led gainers 239 to 184, with 665 stocks unchanged.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.68 per cent higher, bucking weaker regional markets, but trade was sluggish in the absence of any clear lead, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index rose 5.91 points to 869.93 on volume of 341 million shares worth 582 million ringgit ((153 million dollars). Losers led gainers 295 to 388, with 310 stocks unchanged.
JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices closed 0.47 per cent lower on a lack of positive news to counter concerns over the rupiah’s recent weakness which adds to import costs and so inflation, dealers said.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand share prices closed 0.21 per cent lower in quiet trade as concerns over the economy kept investors on the sidelines, dealers said.
The NZSX-50 gross index lost 6.34 points at 3,051.29 on turnover of 74.77 million New Zealand dollars (53.28 million US). Of the 154 stocks traded, 64 fell and 39 rose.
MUMBAI: Indian share prices closed 1.27 per cent lower in the thinnest trade for five months as investors sat on the sidelines ahead of the start of the results season later this week, dealers said.—AFP
