March 11, 2006	Saturday	Safar 10, 1427

HONG KONG, March 10: Asian stocks closed mixed on Friday with Tokyo registering further gains after the Bank of Japan announced a return to a more conventional monetary policy.

Tokyo climbed a further 0.49 per cent after the central bank abandoned its super loose monetary policy, although gains were capped by weaker than expected machinery orders. Seoul followed suit, ending a three day sell-down.

TOKYO: Share prices rose for a second straight day on optimism that the end to the central bank’s ultra-loose monetary policy reflects a stronger economy.

Dealers said the market pared early gains by the finish, however, after closely watched machinery orders data came in weaker than expected and as investors turned cautious ahead of key United States employment data later in the day.

The Nikkei-225 index rose 78.72 points or 0.49 per cent to 16,115.63 on turnover of 2.44 billion shares.

Shares opened weaker as a pullback in US markets overnight prompted some investors to take profits after the Nikkei 225 index jumped 2.6 per cent Thursday on the Bank of Japan’s end to its ultra-loose monetary policy.

HONG KONG: Share prices closed 0.42 per cent lower as investors remained cautious due to interest-rate worries and ahead of key United States employment data due later in the day.

The Hang Seng Index lost 65.08 points at 15,445.05. Turnover was 25.21 billion Hong Kong dollars (3.2 billion US).—AFP