September 21, 2006	Thursday	Sha'aban 27, 1427

HONG KONG, Sept 20: Asian financial markets were jolted on Wednesday by the military coup in Thailand but the losses were limited and will likely stay that way unless the takeover sparks a violent response.

In the region, Tokyo closed down 0.98, with the coup denting sentiment although dealers there said other factors, such as concerns over the outlook for US interest rates, were also at work and probably more important.

TOKYO: Share prices closed nearly one per cent lower as sentiment took a hit from the military coup in Thailand, a key regional hub for Japanese companies and exporters.

The Nikkei-225 index fell 155.61 points to 15,718.67 Volume was 1.56 billion shares, up from 1.46 billion shares Tuesday.

HONG KONG: Share prices closed 0.96 per cent higher as investors quickly regained their composure after an initial knee-jerk reaction to the military coup in Thailand.

Cathay Pacific was up 0.32 at 15.98 and Air China was up 0.09 at 3.30.

SYDNEY: Share prices closed down 1.15 per cent as investors sold resource stocks, with the military coup in Thailand adding to nervous investor sentiment.

The S and P/ASX 200 lost 58.3 points to close at 4,998.5. A total of 1.14 billion shares worth 5.02 billion dollars (3.77 billion US) changed hands.

SINGAPORE: Share prices closed 0.27 per cent lower, coming off early lows as the initial knee-jerk reaction to news of the Thai military coup ran its course.

KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed 0.33 per cent lower as investors locked in profits after the military coup in Thailand hit sentiment and made for cautious trade.

The composite index shed 3.20 points to 959.62 and volume traded was 427.745 million shares valued at 858.32 million ringgit (233.21 million dollars).

JAKARTA: Share prices closed 0.41 per cent lower as the military coup in Thailand sparked a round of profit-taking to end a five-day rally.

WELLINGTON: Share prices closed 0.92 per cent lower, dragged down by weaker offshore markets and a softening in market leader Telecom.

The NZX-50 index was down 32.4 points to 3,517.63 on strong turnover worth 446.78m New Zealand dollars (US$292.16m).

MUMBAI: Share prices surged to close 1.16 per cent higher in a strong rally led by telecom and automobile stocks and bucked the regional trend.

The 30-share Sensex rose 138.67 points to 12,109.14.—AFP