November 03, 2006	Friday	Shawwal 10, 1427

HONG KONG, Nov 2: Asian stocks closed mixed on Thursday with investors becoming increasingly wary over prospects for the US economy after manufacturing survey showed a sharper than expected slowdown.

Release of the survey of industrial activity for September sent Wall Street into a tumble and in many Asian markets traders were provided with an excuse to cash up on the recent rally.

TOKYO: Share prices ended with small losses as falls on Wall Street overnight prompted investors here to pocket profits ahead of a long holiday weekend.

The Nikkei-225 index closed down 25.24 points to 16,350.02. Volume fell to 1.53 billion shares from 1.65 billion Wednesday.

HONG KONG: Share prices gained 1.42 per cent, closing at a new record as continued gains in blue chips HSBC, China Mobile and rotational buying of laggard stocks led the benchmark index past the 18,700 level.

SYDNEY: Share prices closed 0.13 per cent lower, with quick profit-taking in the banks pulling the market into negative territory and off Wednesday's record high.

SINGAPORE: Share prices closed 0.25 per cent lower on profit-taking amid worries over the slowing US economy.

KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed 0.6 per cent higher as interest in key blue-chips pushed the index towards the 1,000-point mark before profit-taking pared back gains.

JAKARTA: Share prices closed 1.12 per cent higher, with the main index finishing at a new record on the back of gains in banks on rising hopes that rates will be cut next week.

WELLINGTON: Share prices closed 1.00 per cent lower as investors decided to book gains a day after setting a record high.

The NZX-50 fell 37.75 points to 3,758.01 on turnover worth 188.9 million New Zealand dollars (126 million US).

MUMBAI: Share prices closed at a second straight record high as funds sought benchmark index companies that are expected to continue to post double-digit quarterly earnings, dealers said.—AFP