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HONG KONG, Sept 5: Asian stocks closed narrowly mixed on Monday, with investors continuing to assess the potential fallout on oil prices and the global economy from devastating Hurricane Katrina, dealers said. They said that while the region as a whole is still near record highs there was no real incentive for aggressive trades, especially given that Wall Street was closed for the Labor Day holiday.
TOKYO: Japanese share prices closed up 0.28 per cent at a fresh four-year high as investors bet that Japan’s economy remains on a recovery path despite hurricane damage in the United States, dealers said.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index rose 34.88 points to close at 12,634.88 as 2.0 billion shares changed hands.
The broader TOPIX index of all first-section shares gained 7.77 points or 0.61 per cent to 1,290.56.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed flat as the market consolidated sharp gains posted over the past two trading sessions, dealers said.
The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 5.94 points at 15,227.83, off a low of 15,179.76 and high 15,244.04 and on turnover of US$1.78 billion.
The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index was down 0.32 points at 5,157.07.
SYDNEY: Australian share prices closed 0.41 per cent lower as Telstra was dumped by investors following a surprise profit downgrade and as a number of stocks went ex-dividend, including market heavyweight BHP Billiton, dealers said.
Telstra’s fall took 5.4 index points off the SP/ASX 200, while negative sentiment from record oil prices and global economic concerns also weighed on sentiment.
The benchmark SP/ASX 200 index closed down 18.3 points at 4,455.4, taking it further off a record close of 4,499.3 set on August 22. The index touched an intraday high of 4,474.7 and a low of 4,440.9.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed 0.3 per cent lower, pulled down mainly by a sell-off in bellwether stock Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel), dealers said.
The Straits Times Index dropped 6.92 points to 2,293.97, off a low of 2,286.70. Volume traded totalled 785 million shares worth 820 million Singapore dollars (491 million US). Losers led gains 308 to 173, with 577 stocks unchanged.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed flat as investors remained sidelined amid concerns over rising inflation and high oil prices, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 0.56 points to 909.74. Volume was 324 million shares worth 647 million ringgit (172 million dollars) while losers outnumbered gainers 374 to 279.
JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices closed 0.32 per cent lower after Standard and Poor’s cut its rating outlook on several banks and blue-chip stocks such as Indosat following its downgrade of Indonesia’s sovereign credit rating outlook, dealers said.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand share prices closed 0.18 per cent lower after a fall in market leader Telecom sparked by a downgrade in earnings guidance from Australian rival Telstra, dealers said.
The benchmark NZSX-50 index dropped 6.19 points to 3,373.72 on turnover worth 108 million dollars (76.6 million US). Of 143 stocks traded, 48 were lower and 43 rose.
MUMBAI: Indian share prices closed at yet another record high, led by overseas funds funds buying benchmark index companies, dealers said.—AFP
