HONG KONG, Jan 2: Asian stocks were mostly higher on Friday in the first day of trading for most markets in 2009 as investors stayed on the sidelines after the festive season, taking stock of one of the worst years on record.

With many markets closed for an extended break, trade was light, although Hong Kong began the year on a high note, soaring 4.6 percent on bargain hunting and a rally on Wall Street.

But Sydney was 0.2 per cent lower despite energy shares being boosted by a 5.5 per cent jump in oil.

Singapore was 2.17 per cent higher, despite new figures showing the city-state had posted its worst gross domestic product decline on record.

The rise in Seoul came as data showed South Korea posted a $13 billion trade deficit -- its first since the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

HONG KONG: Shares closed 4.6 per cent higher.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index was up 655.33 points at 15,042.81. Turnover was 30.53 billion Hong Kong dollars (3.91 billion US).

But traders said low turnover indicated that investors remain cautious on expectations for poor corporate earnings and economic data.

Chinese telecom stocks jumped after Beijing approved the issuance of 3G mobile technology licences.

SYDNEY: Australian share prices shed 0.2 per cent.

After trading in positive territory in the morning, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed down 8.5 points to 3,713.8 while the broader All Ordinaries dropped 3.6 points at 3,655.7.

Preliminary turnover was 848.44 million shares worth 1.29 billion dollars (890 million US).

National Australia Bank fell 2.3 percent to 20.40 and Westpac shed 1.2 per cent to 16.76.

Woolworths was down 2.1 per cent to 26.11.

Woodside Petroleum increased 1.6 per cent to 37.30, while Santos slipped 1.34 per cent to 14.67 and Oil Search was off 1.51 per cent to 4.58.

Rio Tinto was up 2.5 percent at 38.96 and rival BHP Billiton gained 0.5 per cent to 30.58.

SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed up 2.17 per cent.

The blue-chip Straits Times Index (STI) gained 38.16 points to 1,799.72 on volume of 955 million shares worth 686 million Singapore dollars (472 million US).

United Overseas Bank was up 46 cents to 13.38, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp gained 19 cents to 5.18 and DBS rose 27 cents to 8.69.

City Developments added 23 cents to 6.60 and Singapore Airlines posted a 56-cent gain to close at 11.82.

Shipping firm COSCO fell 2.5 cents to 92.5 cents.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares rose 2.0 per cent.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index rose 17.61 points to close at 894.36.

Advancing stocks outnumbered declines 392 to 139.

Dealers said the bourse was bolstered by strong gains in plantation stocks as crude palm oil futures hit a 10-week high. The plantations sub-index rose 6.8 per cent to 4423.74.

MUMBAI: Indian shares closed 0.55 per cent higher.

The benchmark 30-share Sensex index closed 54.76 points higher at 9,958.22.—AFP