May 31, 2006	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 3, 1427

HONG KONG, May 30: Asian stocks drifted mostly lower on Tuesday with investors cautious amid a lack of leads from Wall Street, which was closed due to a public holiday. Dealers said anxiety still afflicted the markets in the wake of a massive two week sell-off and while some stability had recently returned the focus would remain on trade in New York later in the day.

This led Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Mumbai, Bangkok, Taipei and Wellington to close lower. Sydney, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur were flat while modest gains were registered elsewhere.

TOKYO: Share prices closed 0.35 per cent lower as a recent lack of buying from foreign investors weighed on sentiment while domestic data failed to inspire local players.

The Nikkei-225 index lost 56.23 points or 0.35 per cent to 15,859.45. Volume fell to 1.42 billion shares from 1.55 billion on Monday.

HONG KONG: Share prices closed 0.66 per cent lower on caution ahead of key economic data in the US this week, which will again bring interest rates into focus.

SYDNEY: Share prices closed little changed as investors marked time in the absence of an offshore lead after the US and British markets were closed for public holidays.

SINGAPORE: Share prices closed steady as losses in regional bourses helped cap the market’s earlier gains during intraday trading.

KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices struggled to make marginal gains as investors engaged in light bargain-hunting in thin trade. The composite index closed up 1.52 points at 929.89.

JAKARTA: Share prices closed 2.42 per cent higher, as a firmer rupiah enticed buyers to pick up blue chips, amid stabilizing commodity prices and improved dividend hopes.

WELLINGTON: Share prices closed 0.25 per cent lower Tuesday in largely directionless trade after holidays in the US and British markets left local investors without a lead.

MUMBAI: Share prices fell 0.61 per cent to snap three days of gains as overseas funds stayed on the sidelines.—AFP