Asian markets end mixed

Published January 25, 2002

TOKYO, Jan 24: Share prices were mixed on Asian stock markets on Thursday amid a lack of solid incentives despite a good rally by techs on Wall Street.

Stocks in Tokyo closed slightly higher led by a rebound in technology stocks after the Nasdaq composite in the United States put on 2.1 per cent on Wednesday.

But dealers said the upside was capped by Japan’s weak banking sector on bad loan concerns. The Nikkei-225 average of the Tokyo Stock Exchange shed the strong early gains to end the day up 0.3 per cent or 33.14 points at 10,074,05.

The Topix index of all issues on the Tokyo market’s first section recovered from a 16-year low marked the previous day to finish up 5.04 points or 0.5 per cent at 980.44.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices fell 0.2 per cent on follow-up selective selling on a lack of fresh incentives.

The key Hang Seng index lost 20.68 points to close at 10,741.46.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.37 per cent lower with sentiment undermined by concerns over the ringgit peg’s sustainability as the yen continues to weaken, dealers said

The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange composite index fell 2.61 points or 0.37 per cent to 685.95.

SYDNEY: The Australian share market gained 0.2 per cent as buyers zeroed in on stock-specific investments.

The All Ordinaries index closed 8.2 points higher at 3,371.9 while the SP/ASX 200 gained 8.8 points to 3,430.8.

SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices closed 0.2 per cent lower after late-session profit-taking trimmed gains.

The Straits Times Index shed 3.38 points to 1,662.98.

JAKARTA: Indonesian shares closed a sharp 2.7 per cent higher as foreign inflows returned to big-cap stocks.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks jumped 0.8 per cent, fuelled by local interest and Telecom’s strength.

The NZSE-40 index was up 17.84 points to 2,119.35 on moderate turnover.

MUMBAI: Share prices on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) closed slightly lower as several key companies reported lower-than-expected quarterly results to December, analysts said.—AFP

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