Asian stocks close mixed

Published December 13, 2006

HONG KONG, Dec 12: Asian stocks closed mixed on Tuesday as investors braced themselves for a meeting of the United States Federal Reserve and a decision on interest rates later in the day.

Investors have wrestled with the direction of the US economy and whether or not the region's largest importer is heading for a soft or harder than expected landing amid mixed economic signals.

TOKYO: Share prices closed up 0.66 per cent buoyed by a firmer Wall Street overnight and a relatively strong dollar which benefits exporters.

HONG KONG: Share prices closed flat as investors locked in profits following Monday's sharp gains, with property stocks taking a hit ahead of the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting later Tuesday.

SYDNEY: Share prices closed flat with gains in select stocks on takeover activity offset by profit-taking in the broader market.

SINGAPORE: Share prices closed 0.23 per cent higher with investors consolidating positions amid a lack of strong fresh trading cues.

KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed 1.21 per cent lower on profit-taking with technology, finance and construction stocks leading the falls.

JAKARTA: Share prices closed down 0.29 per cent for a fourth straight day as investors continued to cash in gains after the market's recent run-up to record highs.

WELLINGTON: Share prices rose 1.04 per cent for another record high, playing catch up after underperforming global markets.

MUMBAI: Share prices plunged by 3.02 per cent, closing below the crucial 13,000 point level as sentiment was hit by lower-than-expected industrial production data.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...