HONG KONG, Sept 27: Asian stocks closed mixed on Tuesday, with Tokyo running into profit-taking after recent gains while Seoul, Sydney and Mumbai all continued into record territory, dealers said.
They said the regional performance was varied as Monday’s strong relief rally after Hurricane Rita proved less destructive than first feared gave way to underlying concerns about the outlook for oil prices and inflation.
Sobering comments on the need for vigilance on inflation from senior US Federal Reserve officials backed up the impression the US central bank will continue to hike interest rates for some time to come.
TOKYO: Japanese shares closed 0.62 per cent lower as profit-taking set in a day after the market hit a fresh four-year closing high on growing confidence in Japan’s economic recovery, dealers said,
The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index fell 82.59 points to 13,310.04 on turnover of 3.41 billion shares. The broader TOPIX index of all first-section shares shed 9.79 points or 0.71 per cent to 1,376.70.
Investors opted to lock in profits after a strong run by Japanese shares up to a series of four-year peaks in recent weeks.
“Traders have become cautious as stock prices have risen so rapidly in recent days and they thought the market is overheated,” said Hideyuki Suzuki, a strategist at SBI Securities.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed 0.55 per cent lower as investors locked in profits in property stocks after a government land auction got underway, dealers said.
The auction ended about 15 minutes after the market close, with all the three sites put up for sale fetching higher prices than expected.
The Hang Seng index closed down 84.43 points at 15,189.88, off a low of 15,163.67 and a high of 15,312.36, on turnover of 16.99 billion Hong Kong dollars (2.18 billion US).
The property sub-index was down 181.52 points or 0.95 per cent at 18,958.76.
Sun Hung Kai Properties lost 1.25 dollars or 1.53 per cent at 80.35 and Cheung Kong lost 1.05 at 85.50.
Banks were mostly lower, with HSBC falling 0.10 at 125.40.
SYDNEY: Australian shares prices rose 0.22 per cent to chalk up another record finish on the back of strong demand for resources stocks and the major banks, dealers said.
The benchmark SP/ASX 200 rose 10.3 points to 4,629.2, beating Monday’s 4,618.9. The broader All Ordinaries index also hit a new high, up 11.4 points at 4,576.7 to move past the previous best of 4,565.3, also set Monday.
Turnover was 1.37 billion shares worth 4.41 billion dollars (3.39 billion US).
SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices closed 0.48 per cent lower, ending two straight days of gains as property stocks fell back after the government delayed tenders for two integrated casino resort projects, dealers said.
The Straits Times Index fell 11.08 points to 2,306.50. Volume was 1.03 billion shares worth 844 million Singapore dollars (502 million US). Losers beat gainers 315 to 197 while 903 stocks were unchanged.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.28 per cent higher but concerns over rising crude oil prices capped gains, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index was up 2.58 points at 927.71. Losers led gainers 390 to 291, with 325 stocks unchanged and 317 untraded. Volume was 454.29 million shares worth 714.52 million ringgit (190 million dollars).
JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices closed 0.29 per cent higher in volatile trade led by energy stocks after crude oil prices rose again on supply concerns in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, dealers said.
The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index added 3.049 points at 1,037.634. Volume was 771.41 million shares worth 719.28 billion rupiah (70.34 million dollars). Gains led losers 55 to 50, with 70 stocks unchanged.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand share prices closed 0.56 per cent higher, with gains led by Fletcher Building, dealers said.
The benchmark NZSX-50 index rose 19.36 points to 3,431.93 on turnover of 123.2 million dollars (84.0 million US). Of 157 stocks traded, 64 were higher and 44 fell.
MUMBAI: Indian share prices continued into unchartered territory, rising 0.55 per cent for yet another record finish, dealers said.
The 30-share Sensex index rose 46.61 points to 8,525.52.—AFP