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TOKYO, Feb 13: Asian stock markets put in another mixed day’s performance on Wednesday, although many remained closed for Chinese New Year holidays.
The region’s biggest market, Tokyo, was among those to make gains on hopes for fresh economic policy, while Sydney eased slightly after local heavyweight News Corp posted a solid loss for the second quarter.
Share prices in Tokyo ended up 0.9 per cent on hopes for additional economic policy action ahead of a key visit to Japan by US President George W. Bush, brokers said.
The Nikkei-225 average of the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 90.36 points to 9,968.35. The Topix index of all First Section stocks closed up 9.08 points at 983.18.
SYDNEY: The Australian share market eased 0.2 per cent after being dragged lower by investors retreating from media giant News Corp.
The All Ordinaries index closed 8.1 points weaker at 3,415.0 while the SP/ASX 200 eased 6.5 points to 3,474.6.
JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices closed 0.5 per cent lower in lacklustre trade on profit-taking in telecommunications stocks.
The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index ended down 2.058 points at 436.789.
Dealers said the broad market was largely lacklustre, with select technology stocks gaining on overnight profits in Indian American Depository Receipts listed on the Nasdaq exchange.
It was a dull day with buying focussed in few techs and state-owned stocks, said a dealer with KJMC Capital Market Services.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s sharemarket continued to drift despite half-year results from three market heavyweights delivering on expectations.
There’s been a whole raft of earnings reports out in Australia, which seem to be taking a lot of the focus at the moment, DF Mainland broker Greg Arnott said. The benchmark NZSE-40 index closed up 2.99 points or 0.1 per cent at 2,088.40 following five consecutive days of losses.
MUMBAI: Share prices closed 0.6 percent higher on the Bombay Stock Exchange amid growing expectations of a fresh interest rate cut ahead of the federal budget announcement due on February 28.
The 30-share BSE sensitive index rose 22.19 points to close at 3,519.87.—AFP
