March 17, 2006	Friday	Safar 16, 1427

HONG KONG, March 16: Asian stocks closed mixed on Thursday with profit takers cashing-up on markets which are trading near their highest levels since the peak of the Internet boom five years ago.

Dealers said the recent sharp gains were enough to tempt investors wishing to cash-out, despite an overnight rally on Wall Street lending a positive lead to the region.

Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei and Wellington were also lower.

Confidence in commodity prices helped Sydney to rise to a near all-time high, while Manila and Seoul followed Wall Street’s lead and finished stronger.

TOKYO: Share prices closed 1.37 per cent lower as investors took profits despite fresh near five-year highs seen on Wall Street overnight.

Dealers said market sentiment was dampened by growing concern that the Bank of Japan may not keep interest rates near zero for long after recently ending its super-loose monetary policy.

The Nikkei-225 index fell 222.83 points to 16,096.21 as 1.78 billion shares changed hands.

The market opened higher but after that was dragged down by profit-taking, said Hideo Mizutani, chief strategist at Sieg Securities.

HONG KONG: Share prices closed flat as investors were reluctant to take positions ahead of 2005 results announcement from China Mobile.

The Hang Seng Index closed up 8.68 points at 15,729.04. Turnover was 24.47 billion Hong Konog dollars (3.16 billion US dollars).

SYDNEY: Share prices rose 0.64 per cent for a record finish just short of the historic 5,000 points level as the mining sector benefited from greater confidence in commodity prices.

The S and P/ASX 200 added 31.6 points to 4,977.9, overtaking the previous record of 4,956.7 set on February 1. Turnover was 1.63 billion shares worth 6.58 billion dollars (4.85 billion US).

SINGAPORE: Share prices closed flat in the absence of a fresh trading lead, with pressure on DBS Bank and its bid for a South Korean bank.

The Straits Times Index edged up 0.91 points at 2,498.93 on volume of 1.22 billion shares worth 1.18 billion Singapore dollars (733 million US).

KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed 0.12 per cent lower on fresh concerns about further fuel price hikes.

The composite index slipped 1.09 points at 923.15 and volume was 1.05 billion shares worth 1.07 billion ringgit (289 million dollars).

JAKARTA: Share prices added 2.36 per cent for a record finish led by the banks and Bumi Resources after reports the miner was ready to sell several units in a massive deal.

WELLINGTON: Share prices closed 0.50 per cent lower as profit-taking on recent record gains continued for a second day.

The NZX-50 gross index fell 17.78 points to 3,553.47 on turnover worth 166.37 New Zealand dollars (US$106.28 million).—AFP