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HONG KONG, Sept 30: Asian stocks closed mixed on Friday, consolidating another strong week marked by increasing investor confidence that the economic prospects are sound despite the threat of soaring oil prices, dealers said.
They said there was little fresh news to provide a lead Friday although the latest US jobs claims showing a sharp fall were taken positively, promising a good US employment report and further evidence that Hurricanes Rita and Katrina may not have been so damaging as first thought.
Givne that several markets are in record territory and most of the rest at multi-year highs there was some cautiousness about stocks being overbought but this remains a minority view, with many happy to push prices further.
TOKYO: Japanese share prices closed 0.32 per cent Friday as investors took a breather after recent gains and ahead of a key survey of business confidence due next week, dealers said.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index fell 42.94 points to 13,574.30 as 3.04 billion shares changed hands. The broader TOPIX index of all first-section shares lost 15.85 points or 1.11 per cent to 1,412.28.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed flat as the market consolidated Thursday’s sharp gains, dealers said.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed down 2.73 points at 15,428.52, off a low of 15,394.68 and a high of 15,470.51 and on turnover of US$2.87 billion.
SYDNEY: Australian share prices closed 0.65 per cent lower as blue-chip banking and mining stocks succumbed to profit-taking after a week featuring three record finishes, dealers said.
Volumes were down ahead of a longer weekend in some states, including New South Wales where Sydney traders will have the Labour Day holiday on Monday.
SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices closed 0.25 per cent higher after three straight days of losses as investors searched for bargains, dealers said.
The Straits Times Index rose 5.85 points to 2,305.14 on volume of 1.01 billion shares valued at 1.03 billion Singapore dollars (598 million US).
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.36 per cent higher on last-minute support Friday as investors reacted positively to the federal budget, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index was up 3.31 points to 927.54. Gainers led losers 362 to 306, with 351 stocks unchanged and 304 untraded. Volume was 443.62 million shares worth 780.04 million ringgit (207 million ringgit).
JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices closed 2.95 per cent higher as protests against a planned fuel price hike remained peaceful, bolstering confidence the government can go ahead with the move which aims to rein in the budget deficit, dealers said.
The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index closed up 30.973 points at 1,079.275, rising for a second straight day in very heavy trade. Volume was 4.21 billion shares worth US$540m.
MUMBAI: Indian share prices ending another record-breaking week with a very modest loss of 0.18 per cent as investors consolidated in confident mood, dealers said.
The 30-share Sensex index lost 15.69 points to 8,634.48.—AFP
