HONG KONG, Dec 14: Asian stocks closed mixed on Wednesday with investors reacting to a varied batch of signals after the US Federal Reserve delivered a widely expected a quarter-percentage point interest rate rise.
Dealers said comments accompanying the hike indicating the current US rate cycle could be near its end had inspired a Wall Street rally and this had led to positive start for most regional markets.
Sydney climbed 0.67 per cent after Qantas announced it would pay 18 billion dollars for 115 planes from US-based Boeing while Hong Kong was up 0.23 per cent with limited WTO protests failing to impact on trade.
This contributed to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur closing flat.
TOKYO: Share prices fell almost two per cent as investors took profits after a string of five-year highs and as an upbeat survey of business sentiment missed high expectations.
The Nikkei-225 index dropped 314.28 points or 1.99 per cent to 15,464.58.
The market is adjusting itself. Participants have been feeling that it has become overheated, said Hideyuki Suzuki, a strategist at SBI Securities.
Notable losses were seen in the tech sector with Rohm down 360 yen at 12,460 and Tokyo Electron dropping 190 yen to 7,140.
HONG KONG: Share prices closed 0.23 per cent firmer as investors picked up select blue chips on hopes the US Federal Reserve will shortly end its cycle if increased interest-rates.
SYDNEY: Share prices closed 0.67 per cent higher as investor confidence received a boost from a Federal Reserve statement hinting at an end to US interest rate hikes.
Among the banks, National Australia Bank rose 0.46 to 31.80, CBA gained 0.25 to 41.16, ANZ added 0.08 to 23.13 and Westpac advanced 0.18 to 22.30.
SINGAPORE: Share prices closed 0.02 per cent higher as the market consolidated in the absence of new leads ahead of the Christmas holidays.
Among blue chips, Singapore Airlines was flat at 11.60 and Singapore Press Holdings steady at 4.30, while Singapore Tele-communications slipped 0.02.
KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed flat as last-minute selling of blue chips dragged down the key index to close a notch below the psychologically-important 900 points.
Among blue chips, Tenaga Nasional was up 0.10 ringgit at 9.90, Telekom Malaysia was unchanged at 9.65 while Maybank gained 0.10 to 11.40.
JAKARTA: Share prices closed 0.70 per cent lower amid profit-taking after eight consecutive days of a market rally largely driven by blue chips.
Leading stocks turned in a mixed performance. Index heavyweight Telkom was down 100 rupiah at 6,050 and Indosat was down 100 at 5,600.
WELLINGTON: Share prices closed 0.35 per cent higher following a rebound in number three stock Fletcher Building.
The NZSX-50 gross index rose 11.23 points to 3,207.95 on turnover of US $154.3 million.
Fletcher Building rose 25 cents to $7.07 on reports of strong orders for its construction division.
MUMBAI: Share prices closed 0.24 per cent lower on moderate profit-taking after recent sharp gains which helped the benchmark to record highs..—AFP
