April 8, 2006	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1427

HONG KONG, April 7: Asian stocks closed with mostly modest Gains on Friday as investors paused for breath after another strong week and ahead of a key US employment report due later in the day, dealers said.

They said the tone remained overwhelmingly positive and if the day was mixed, that still meant several markets were at record levels while the rest were at highs not seen for five or six years.

Nothing at the moment appears able to halt the momentum — oil prices at near $68 and expected to rise to over $70 seem to have no impact when a few months ago they would have been seen as a reason to sell.

Investors are confident too that inflation is contained and that while central banks may want to hike interest rates, any increases are going to be slow and moderate.

No one Friday expected the US jobs report for March to change that view but in those circumstances any major surprises could have an impact Monday.

On the day, Tokyo added 0.42 per cent and Sydney slipped 0.11 per cent while Seoul was up 0.38 per cent despite concerns over the continued rise in the won.

Taipei put on 0.31 per cent while record-breaking Mumbai lost 1.34 per cent as investors took some profits amid concerns about the speed of the run-up.

TOKYO: Japanese share prices closed at new multi-year highs, riding a wave of optimism about prospects for the economy and company profits, dealers said.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index rose 74.04 points or 0.42 per cent to 17,563.37, the highest closing level since July 10, 2000.

The broader TOPIX index of all first-section shares added 8.05 points or 0.45 per cent to 1,783.72, levels last seen in November 1991.

Advancers beat decliners 934 to 599, with 160 stocks unchanged.

Volume rose to 1.89 bln shares from 1.77 billion on Thursday.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed 0.37 per cent higher as continued institutional interest in blue chips such as Hutchison Whampoa and China Mobile offset mild profit-taking, dealers said.

The Hang Seng Index closed up 60.65 points at 16,471.77, off a low of 16,328.63 and a high of 16,534.83. Turnover was again heavy at 42.55 billion Hong Kong dollars (5.46 billion US), although slightly lower than Thursday’s multi-year high.

SYDNEY: Australian share prices closed marginally lower as investors became wary about the market’s strong rise over the trading week, driven predominantly by a rise in resource stocks, dealers said.

The broader All Ordinaries Index eased 3.6 points to 5,186.7, falling from the previous record close of 5,190.3 also set Thursday.

Turnover was 1.61 billion shares worth 4.48 billion dollars (3.27 billion US), with rises outnumbering falls 561 to 541 and 347 stocks unchanged.

SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices closed 0.37 per cent higher as gains in select blue chip stocks cushioned falls in a market searching for fresh leads, dealers said.

The Straits Times Index rose 9.41 points to 2,552.05. Volume was 1.24 billion shares worth 1.10 billion Singapore dollars (688 million US).

Volume was 1.24 billion shares worth 1.10 billion dollars (683 million US).

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.28 per cent higher, with strong retail investor interest in Mesdaq board stocks and other lower-liners, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index was up 2.65 points at 943.71. Volume was 1.51 billion shares worth 1.28 billion ringgit (0.349 billion dollars).

Gainers led losers 474 to 349 with 258 stocks unchanged and 240 untraded.

JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices closed 0.61 per cent higher with energy stocks driving the main index to a third consecutive record finish, dealers said.

The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index rose 8.285 points to 1,363.298. Volume was 1.44 billion shares worth 1.87 trillion rupiah (208 million dollars). Gains led declines 90 to 58, with 65 stocks unchanged.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand share prices closed 0.65 per cent higher, extending record gains to a 13th straight day, dealers said.

The benchmark NZX-50 gross index gained 24.83 points to a fresh record of 3,800.97 on turnover worth 138.8 million New Zealand dollars (85.2 million US).

Of 151 stocks traded, 62 were higher and 37 fell.

MUMBAI: Indian share prices fell 1.34 per cent in volatile trade, snapping a three-day streak of record closes as funds and retail investors turned cautious and took profits, dealers said.

They said software and automobile stocks came under selling pressure after some equity research firms downgraded those sectors.—AFP