0
HONG KONG, Sept 6: Asian stocks closed narrowly mixed again Tuesday as Wall Street’s closure for the Labor Day holiday left investors with no clear lead on the continuing fallout from Hurricane Katrina, dealers said.
They said there was some relief that oil prices continued to ease off record highs as countries dipped into their strategic reserves but equally there was little hope of a major retreat which would ease growing inflation concerns.
TOKYO: Japanese share prices saw an early rally fizzle out, closing down 0.28 per cent as investors locked in profits after the market’s steady rise to a series of four-year highs, dealers said.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index fell 35.45 points to close at 12,599.43 on brisk turnover of 2.52 billion shares.
The broader TOPIX index of all first-section shares lost 4.27 points or 0.33pc to 1,286.29.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed 0.44 per cent lower on profit-taking in banks and select property stocks after the market’s recent gains, dealers said.
The Hang Seng Index closed down 67.05 points at 15,160.78, off a low of 15,038.65 and a high of 15,307.65. Turnover was 18.38 billion Hong Kong dollars (2.4 billion US).
SYDNEY: Australian share prices closed 0.15 per cent higher as investors moved into defensive banking stocks, offsetting falls in telecoms giant Telstra Corp. and the resources sector, dealers said.
The benchmark SP/ASX 200 index closed up 6.6 points at 4,462.0, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 5.1 points to 4,422.3.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed 0.2 per cent lower on the back of further losses in Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel), which fell to its lowest point in a month on earnings concerns, dealers said.
SingTel dropped eight cents or 3.1 per cent to 2.50 dollars.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.21 per cent higher, with the market finding no new lead strong enough to break out of the current narrow trading range, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 1.90 points to 911.64.
Among blue chips, Telekom Malaysia and Maybank were flat at 10.10 ringgit and 11.30 respectively, while Tenaga Nasional was down 0.10 at 10.90.
JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices closed 1.52 per cent higher in a technical rebound led by index heavyweights Telkom and Astra International, dealers said.
The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index closed up 15.703 points at 1,051.594 on modest volume of 853.82 million shares worth 853.19 billion rupiah (82.87 million dollars).
WELLINGTON: New Zealand share prices closed 0.34 per cent lower in quiet trade ahead of next week’s election and amid continuing concerns about high oil prices, dealers said.
The benchmark NZSX-50 index dropped 11.54 points to 3,362.18 on turnover worth 96.7 million dollars (68.5 million US). Of 151 stocks traded, 45 were lower and 45 higher.
MUMBAI: Indian share prices closed at a third-straight record high led by overseas funds buying software and banking stocks, dealers said.
The 30-share Mumbai stock exchange Sensex index rose 21.54 points or 0.27 per cent to 7,946.78, beating Monday’s record close of 7,925.24.—AFP
