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TOKYO, Jan 4: Asia’s major share markets were led higer on Friday, with high technology stocks following a positive performance by their counterparts on Wall Street.
The mood was evident in share prices in Tokyo, which opened for its second half day of trade for the week due to holidays, rose 3.1 per cent, brokers said.
The Nikkei-225 average of the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 328.87 points from last Friday to close at 10,871.49 in the market’s first trading session of 2002.
The Topix of all issues on the first section of the stock exchange rose 21.82 points to 1,053.96.
Trading was moderate for the half-day session with volume estimated at 341 million shares, compared with 373 million shares in the year-end half-day trading session on Friday last week.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices surged 2.4 per cent due to rises in technology and telecoms stocks following sharp gains in the US’ Nasdaq.
The key Hang Seng index gained 278.63 points to close at 11,702.15.
Kitty Chan, associate director of Lippo Securities, said hi-tech and telecoms stocks were higher after the strong performance of the tech-heavy Nasdaq.
SYDNEY: Australian share prices closed 0.5 per cent higher with improved investor sentiment and solid support for blue chips pushing the market up.
The All Ordinaries index was up 15.8 points at 3,374.3 while the SP/ASX 200 closed up 16.1 points at 3,435.7.
SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices rose for a third straight day, closing 1.5 per cent higher on renewed hopes of an early recovery in the battered technology sector.
The Straits Times Index (STI) advanced 24.96 points to settle at 1,678.67 while the broader All Singapore Equities index added 7.13 points to 443.18. Trading in Singapre opened on Wednesday after the New Year holidays.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 1.5 per cent higher buoyed by an improved economic outlook and gains on Wall Street.
The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange composite index rose 9.99 points to finish at 693.47.
The gains are broad-based and in line with regional markets, which are being driven by the tech sector. There is quite a bit of enthusiasm for a recovery in demand, a research manager from a local brokerage said.
MUMBAI: Share prices closed 2.0 percent higher on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) led by Reliance Industries and other blue chips.
The benchmark 30-share BSE sensitive index rose 67.72 points to close at 3,375.74.
WELLINGTON: The New Zealand share market closed virtually unchanged in a quiet day’s trade, with dealers saying the holiday mood is likely to continue.
The NZSE-40 capital index gained 2.05 points to end the week at 2063.94.—AFP
