HONG KONG, April 5: Asian stocks closed mixed on Thursday following a subdued by performance by Wall Street overnight and with investors positioning themselves ahead of regional holidays.
Two days of solid gains, which sent many markets to historical highs, aided profit-taking resulting in Sydney falling 0.30 per cent, Tokyo also dropped 0.30 per cent, Bangkok fell 0.15 per cent and Seoul by 0.09 per cent.
TOKYO: Share prices took a step back as investors locked in profits after two days of strong gains, turning cautious on the eve of key US jobs data.
The Nikkei-225 index fell 52.67 points to 17,491.42. Volume fell to 2.14 billion shares from 2.31 billion on Wednesday.
SYDNEY: Share prices closed 0.30 per cent lower, slipping off record highs as investors took profits ahead of the long Easter weekend.
The SP/ASX 200 lost 20.1 points at 6,077.1 while the broader All Ordinaries index fell 15.6 points to 6,063.4 at the end of the shortened trading day.
SINGAPORE: Share prices closed at a fresh record high supported by gains in technology and agricultural plantation stocks and a rise in Wall Street overnight.
The Straits Times Index rose 12.94 points to 3,345.86. Volume totalled 1.90 billion shares worth US$ 1.14 billion.
KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed 0.49 per cent higher in a mixed session, with rotational interest in companies in water-related industries offsetting profit-taking.
JAKARTA: Share prices closed down 1.38 per cent after the central bank surprised the market by keeping its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 9.0 per cent.
WELLINGTON: Share prices closed little changed in directionless trade ahead of the long Easter holiday.
The NZX-50 gross index fell 3.27 points to 4,184.70 on light turnover worth 91.38 million dollars (65.8 million US).
MUMBAI: Share prices closed 0.54 per cent higher on fund buying in metal and banking stocks.
The benchmark 30-share Mumbai stock exchange Sensex closed up 69.31 points at 12,856.08.—AFP