April 26, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 08, 1428

HONG KONG, April 25: Asian stocks closed mixed on Wednesday with investors continuing to consolidate as the current corporate earnings season gets underway.

A mixed performance on Wall Street overnight amid weak reports on the US housing market and consumer confidence also weighed on sentiment and with Tokyo shedding 1.24 per cent investors had every reason to cash-up where they could.

In Singapore, the benchmark eased 0.35 per cent, Seoul was down 0.72 per cent, Taipei fell 0.75 per cent while Kuala Lumpur shed 0.12 per cent and Hong Kong slipped 0.18 per cent.

Sydney and Wellington were closed for public holidays.

TOKYO: Share prices closed down 1.24 per cent as investors fretted over the health of the US economy and the start of the domestic corporate results season.

Dealers said investors were also hesitant to take large positions before the Golden Week national holidays begin this weekend.

The Nikkei-225 index fell 215.61 points to 17,236.16. Volume was 1.81 billion shares, down slightly from 1.82 billion Tuesday.

He said the market was waiting to see more results this week and after Golden Week to assess the earnings growth of Japanese firms.

Investors were waiting for a batch of Japanese economic data on Friday, including March consumer prices and the Bank of Japan's latest report on the outlook for economic activity and prices.

Canon added 50 yen to 6,710.

HONG KONG: Share prices closed 0.18 per cent weaker on worries the mainland could see a significant correction if the Chinese government announces further macro-economic controls, possibly during the golden week holidays next week.

Dealers said any sharp fall on the Shanghai market will have a spillover effect on Chinese firms listed here.

Investors were also cautious ahead of the expiry of April futures contracts and the release of key US economic data later in the week.

The Hang Seng index closed down 36.02 points at 20,536.78. Turnover was 44.39 billion Hong Kong dollars (7.8 billion US dollars).

He said the settlement of April futures contracts on Friday and the release of more US economic data in the next few days added to general investor caution.

China Mobile closed down 0.35 dollars at 73.00.

SINGAPORE: Share prices closed 0.35 per cent lower with many investors moving to the sidelines ahead of more first quarter corporate earnings reports.

The Straits Times Index closed down 11.84 points at 3,362.68 on volume of 2.69 billion shares worth 2.11 billion dollars (1.40 billion US).

“The market has seen some profit-taking... It's consolidating ahead of next week's holiday and the earnings reporting season,” UOB KayHian analyst K. Ajith said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed 0.12 per cent lower as investors cut their positions and took profit ahead of upcoming holidays.

Dealers said profit-taking was well absorbed, with continued buying interest in property stocks helping to limit losses.

The composite index closed down 1.53 points at 1,315.97 on turnover of 1.42 billion shares worth 2.04 billion ringgit (596.49 million dollars).

JAKARTA: Share prices closed 0.26 per cent higher with sustained interest in small companies helping the main index to finish in positive territory.

The composite index closed up 5.101 points at 1,986.671. Volume was 5.39 billion shares worth 3.84 trillion rupiah (422.67 million dollars).

Investors have been buying small caps stocks as most blue chips have become richly valued, said Maxi Liesyaputra, an analyst with Sucorinvest Securities.

MUMBAI: Share prices rose 0.57 per cent, extending gains for four straight days, after India's central bank left key short-term borrowing rates unchanged the previous day.

Dealers said the markets could turn choppy towards the expiry of the April futures trading contract on Thursday.

The Mumbai 30-share Sensex index closed up 81.05 points at 14,217.77.—AFP