HONG KONG, Aug 12: Asian shares closed mostly down on Tuesday as investors took profits following gains in the previous session, with Japan sliding nearly one percent ahead of the release of key economic data.

The Japanese bourse, Asia’s biggest, fell 0.95 per cent after official data showed wholesale inflation had hit a 27-year high of 7.1 per cent.

Investors were also waiting for Japanese growth data due Wednesday, which are expected to show that the country’s economy shrank in the second quarter.

Elsewhere in Asia, the Chinese stock market fell more than 0.5 per cent, compounding sharp recent falls. The Shanghai index has plunged about 60 per cent since its peak last October.

TOKYO: Japanese share prices fell 0.95 per cent as worries about the health of the economy triggered profit-taking, dealers said.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index lost 127.31 points to end at 13,303.60. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares declined 8.58 points or 0.67 per cent to 1,271.42.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed down 1.0 per cent, dealers said.The benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped 218.45 points at 21,640.89. Turnover was 70.05 billion Hong Kong dollars (8.97 billion US).

The Hang Seng Index is likely to consolidate in the short term as heavyweight China Mobile fell below 100 Hong Kong dollars, a key support level.

SYDNEY: Australian share prices closed up 0.6 per cent, dealers said.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 gained 27.5 points to close at 5,053.6, while the broader All Ordinaries added 21.1 points to end the day at 5,090.4.

Turnover was 1.19 billion shares worth $5.6 billion (4.9 billion US).

SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed 0.3 per cent lower, dealers said.

The Straits Times Index lost 8.57 points to 2,816.82. Volume traded totalled 1.16 billion shares worth 1.22 billion Singapore dollars (864 million US).

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.8 per cent lower, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index shed 8.68 points to close at 1,118.78.

The sustained sell down in plantation stocks can be attributed in part to the ringgit’s weakness. Banking stocks and blue-chips were also hurt by this capitulation of foreign funds, a dealer told Dow Jones Newswires.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares closed down 0.49 per cent, dealers said.

The benchmark NZX-50 index fell 16.56 points to 3,353.63.

Market leader Telecom fell three cents to 3.33 dollars. Contact Energy was down 14 cents at 8.55 dollars. Fletcher Building fell by the same margin to 6.43 ahead of its annual results Wednesday.

MUMBAI: Indian shares closed down 1.88 per cent, dealers said.—AFP