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HONG KONG, Dec 12: Asian stocks closed mostly higher on Monday with Tokyo again outpacing the region, while investors elsewhere held steady ahead of a widely expected interest rate hike in the United States, dealers said.
They said the gains on Wall Street had added to the positive tone, and upbeat predictions for Asia’s largest economy had also bolstered Japan which surged 2.17 per cent.
Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Kuala Lumpur were flat. Bangkok was closed for a public holiday.
TOKYO: Share prices scored this year’s biggest one-day point rise yet, hitting the highest level for five years and two months on the back of US gains and hopes of an upbeat Tankan survey of business sentiment.
The Nikkei-225 index rose 334.65 points or 2.17 per cent to 15,738.70, the highest close since October 10, 2000.
The business daily said the business sentiment index for big manufacturers is forecast to reach 23, up four points from the September Tankan and the highest since it hit 26 in September 2004.
HONG KONG: Share prices closed 0.50 per cent higher, led by select blue chips, following strong gains on the Japanese stock market and on hopes of fresh fund inflows into the region.
Large-cap blue chips targeted by investors Monday included Cheung Kong, which rose 0.75 at 79.95; China Mobile up 0.25 at 37.55; and HSBC, up 0.60 at 124.70.
SYDNEY: Share prices closed 0.69 per cent higher buoyed by gains by sector leaders, including banks which are about to pay generous dividends.
The SP/ASX 200 index was up 31.8 points at 4,611.9. Turnover was 996.8 million shares worth 2.89 billion dollars (2.17 billion US).
ANZ closed up 0.30 at 23.20 dollars, National Australia Bank added 0.27 to 31.78 and Westpac climbed 0.51 to 22.16. Macquarie Bank dropped 1.25 to 66.95.
SINGAPORE: Share prices closed 0.44 per cent higher, with investors confident in line with sharp gains across the region ahead of a US Federal Reserve meeting on interest rates.
KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed 0.14 per cent lower after profit-taking erased opening gains as the futures market continued weaker to the cash market.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index was down 1.29 points at 897.01. Volume was 187.28 million shares, worth 378.32 million ringgit (US$100.35 million).
JAKARTA: Share prices closed 1.29 per cent higher, extending gains for a seventh straight day Monday as the region moved ahead confidently, led by sharp gains in Tokyo.
The Composite Index rose 14.939 points to 1,175.007. Volume was 2.19 billion shares worth 1.69 trillion rupiah (173.15 million dollars.)
Monday’s rise “was driven mainly by (gains in) regional markets,” said Equity Development Securities analyst Nugraha Adi.
WELLINGTON: Share prices closed barely changed, steadying after losing 3.5 per cent last week.
Hamilton Hindin Greene partner Grant Williamson said the day marked a slight turnaround after stocks were sold off sharply on the back of last week’s interest rate hike.
MUMBAI: Share prices closed 0.73 per cent higher in line with regional gains as foreign funds continued to show favour for emerging market stocks.—AFP
