HONG KONG, Aug 15: Asian shares closed mostly down on Friday in lacklustre trade as concerns about slowing economic growth cowed investor sentiment.

The Hong Kong bourse closed 1.1 per cent lower, with the southern Chinese territory saying its economy shrank in the second quarter compared with the previous three-month period.

Gross domestic product fell by a seasonally adjusted 1.4 per cent -- the first quarterly decline since the SARS crisis of 2003.

Among other major markets, Taiwan and Singapore closed lower, mainland Chinese markets were mixed and Australia finished flat.

Asia had a generally poor day even though US stocks closed higher Thursday as investors showed a fresh appetite for battered financial stocks and as retail titan Wal-Mart announced a big jump in quarterly profits.

Asian economic growth has begun to slow as the US-led global slowdown takes its toll.

TOKYO: Japanese shares closed up 0.48 per cent after a rally on Wall Street on the back of a drop in oil prices and easing jitters about problems in the financial sector, dealers said.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index rose 62.61 points to end at 13,019.41. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares added 8.38 points or 0.68 percent to 1,247.31.

Figures this week showing the Japanese economy contract in the second quarter continued to weigh on sentiment.

Kawasaki Kisen added 4.9 per cent to 809 yen. Mitsubishi Corp. lost 2.3 per cent to 2,790 yen and Mitsui & Co. fell 2.4 per cent to 1,766 yen.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed down 1.1 per cent, dealers said.The benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 232.13 points at 21,160.58, its lowest level since March 20. Turnover was 48.96 billion Hong Kong dollars (6.27 billion US).

China Unicom fell for the fourth straight day, dropping 2.9 per cent.

Foxconn International fell 9.4 per cent.

SYDNEY: The Australian share market closed flat, dealers said.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 added 0.6 points to 4,981.7, while the broader All Ordinaries was down 0.1 points at 5,038.9.

Turnover was light, with some 1.05 billion shares worth 4.7 billion Australian dollars (4.1 billion US) traded.

BHP Billiton dropped 1.9 per cent to 37.98 and rival Rio Tinto slipped 2.4 per cent to 115.15.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 1.3 per cent, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index shed 14.38 points to end at 1,095.05.

The banks are weighing on the market, especially Bumi-Commerce following its 2Q results, a trader told Dow Jones Newswires.

Among major stocks Bumi-Commerce was down 5.6 percent at 7.65 ringgit, KLK was down 3.3 percent at 11.60 ringgit and Kulim fell 4.0 per cent.

JAKARTA: Indonesian shares closed one per cent lower, dealers said.

The Jakarta Composite Index fell 21.45 points to 2,085.15.

There were worries that oil prices will continue to fall which could also drive down prices of commodities, a trader told Dow Jones Newswires.

Among top decliners, coal miner Bumi Resources fell 6.5 per cent to 5,050 rupiah, while rival Bukit Asam dropped 6.6 per cent to 12,750.

Palm oil producer Astra Agro fell 6.2 per cent to 16,600 rupiah.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand share prices rose 0.5 per cent, dealers said.

Fletcher helped the benchmark NZX-50 index rise 17.23 points to 3,351.13.

Kiwi equities in the last two or three weeks have actually performed pretty well, Nigel Scott of ABN Amro Craigs said.

Fletcher Building closed up 25 cents at $6.99. Telecom remained out of favour, falling four cents to $3.24.

Mumbai closed.—AFP