HONG KONG, July 28: Asian markets closed mixed on Friday, with investors waiting for second quarter US growth data due later in the day to get a fresh lead on the outlook for the US economy and interest rates, dealers said.
They said Wall Street provided no direction after weak US homes sales figures cancelled out strong durable goods orders overnight, while Thursday's sharp gains allowed room for profit-taking ahead of the weekend.
Sydney, which had rebounded 1.46 per cent Thursday, slipped back 0.99 per cent Friday, with sentiment volatile and uncertain ahead of next week's central bank meeting and a widely expected interest rate hike to 6.00 per cent.
TOKYO: Japanese share prices closed at their highest level in over two weeks, adding 1.07 per cent as investors welcomed robust earnngs reports from local blue-chip companies, dealers said.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange's benchmark Nikkei-225 index rose 163.09 points to 15,342.87, the best finish since July 11 and just off the day high of 15,351.79.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed 0.23 per cent higher as investors turned cautious in late trade ahead of US second quarter growth data due later in the day and global banking giant HSBC's interim results due Monday, dealers said.
SYDNEY: Australian share prices closed 0.99 per cent lower on a fresh bout of nerves about the inflation outlook and as investors waited for key US growth data due later in the day, dealers said.
SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices closed 0.62 per cent lower, slipping back after sharp gains Thursday following a lacklustre Wall Street performance overnight, dealers said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.22 per cent lower on mild profit-taking and caution ahead of central bank's interest rate announcement due later in the day, dealers said.The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index lost 2.04 points to 934.72.
JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices closed 0.51 per cent higher, with the market led by Telkom and other select major stocks, dealers said.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand share prices closed 0.18 per cent lower following a sharp fall in the Australian market and on caution ahead of the corporate results reporting season, dealers said.
MUMBAI: Indian share prices closed 0.57 per cent lower, snapping four days of gains, as investors locked in profits amid mixed Asian trends, dealers said.—AFP