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TOKYO, Feb 4: Asian share prices closed mostly lower Monday on a lack of fresh incentives after Wall Street falls late last week.
Regional heavyweight Tokyo’s key Nikkei-225 average lost 1.6 per cent or 159.50 points to finish at 9,631.93 after a key speech by Japan’s prime minister failed to allay fears of a delay to financial reforms as his popularity wavers.
This sent the Topix index of all stocks on the Tokyo market’s first section down 1.3 per cent or 12.75 points at 943.51, its first close below 950-points since April 18, 1985.
HONG KONG:Hong Kong share prices closed 0.3 per cent higher on selective bargain hunting after a series of losses.
The key Hang Seng index gained 30.07 points to close at 10,721.32.
SYDNEY:Australian share prices closed 0.6 per cent higher due to gains in resources and banking stocks.
The benchmark All Ordinaries index jumped 19.7 points to 3,405.7 while the SP/ASX 200 closed 20.6 points higher at 3,466.1 as mining companies BHP Billiton.
SINGAPORE:Singapore share prices closed 1.3 per cent lower on profit-taking after recent gains.
The Straits Times Index fell 23.27 points to 1,758.15.
KUALA LUMPUR:Malaysian share prices closed 0.7 per cent higher on follow-through interest from foreign investors mainly in blue chips.
The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange composite index finished at 723.54 points, up 4.72 points from Thursday’s close. The market was closed Friday for a public holiday.
JAKARTA:Indonesian shares closed 0.7 per cent lower led by telecoms stocks as severe flooding in the capital prompted local investors to lock in profits.
WELLINGTON: ew Zealand stocks rose 0.4 per cent, shrugging off the failure of California’s Edison Mission to win full control of power generator Contact.
The NZSE-40 index added 8.41 points to 2,143.63.—AFP
