HONG KONG, Feb 2: Asian stocks closed mixed with a positive tone on Thursday following overnight gains in New York and on ongoing optimism surrounding the region’s economies.
However, profit taking emerged in some markets where benchmarks have hovered at or near historic highs amid a rising US dollar and the prospect of further interest rate hikes.
This did not stop Tokyo surging 1.40 per cent amid another round of upbeat profit results, or Manila gaining 0.74 per cent with the latest sales tax rise improving sentiment toward the government’s economic outlook.
TOKYO: Share prices rose 1.40 per cent to the highest closing level since September 2000, buoyed by gains on Wall Street, solid domestic earnings news and a weaker yen.
The Nikkei-225 index climbed 230.46 points to 16,710.55 on turnover of 2.51 billion shares.
Rising shares outnumbered decliners 1,104 to 481 with 87 issues unchanged.
Pioneer jumped 52 yen to 1,800 and Matsushita Electric, which reported a healthy rise in profits after the closing bell, added 30 yen to 2,515.
HONG KONG: Share prices closed 0.32 per cent lower as investors locked in profits in some blue chips and H-shares following recent sharp gains.
The Hang Seng Index closed down 50.61 points at 15,691.69 on turnover of 33 billion Hong Kong dollars (4.2 billion US dollars).
HSBC was up 0.20 at 128.90 and Hang Seng Bank was down 0.40 at 103.10. Bank of East Asia gained 0.05 at 24.10 and BOC Hong Kong was down 0.05 at 15.40.
SYDNEY: Share prices closed down 1.04 per cent as investors cut portfolio holdings of resource and banking stocks in late selling which pushed the benchmark off a record high.
The SP/ASX 200 fell 51.6 points to 4,905.1 on volume of 1.75 billion shares worth 4.76 billion dollars (3.57 billion US dollars).
SINGAPORE: Share prices closed 0.40 per cent higher as an upbeat economic outlook encouraged buying in blue chips like oil rig-maker Keppel Corp, banking and property stocks.
The Straits Times Index (STI) was up 9.65 points to 2,441.39. Volume reached 1.78 billion shares worth 1.42 billion Singapore dollars (US$871m).
JAKARTA: Share prices edged up 0.22 per cent led by plantation and mining stocks on the back of strong commodity prices, while profit-taking hit some blue chips.
The composite index closed up 2.698 points at 1,243.393, rising for the fourth straight day on volume of 937.32 million shares valued at 1.07 trillion rupiah (114.87 million dollars).
WELLINGTON: Share prices closed 1.26 per cent higher after market leader Telecom surged despite posting a first half loss.
Telecom reported a 466 million dollar loss after slashing the valuation of its troubled Australian offshoot AAPT.
The NZSX-50 gross index rose 42.78 points to 3,407.71 on turnover worth 92.2 million New Zealand dollars (63.2 million US).
Telecom rose 16 cents to 5.82 dollars.
MUMBAI: Share prices closed down 0.16 per cent in choppy trade as investors remained cautious with Mumbai’s benchmark Sensex index near record levels.
The 30-share Sensex fell 15.39 points to 9,843.87 points. Volume totalled Rs 34.11 billion ($771 million).—AFP