HONG KONG, July 2: Asian stocks closed mainly higher on Monday with investors consolidating on domestic issues after Wall Street finished last week barely lower, failing to provide the region with a solid lead.
Jakarta was a standout on the day with a record close after 1.33 per cent gain on the back of lower inflation figures. Mumbai, riding high on an improved inflation outlook, also had a best ever finish.
Elsewhere, Kuala Lumpur advanced 0.73 per cent, Manila was up 0.72 per cent, Taipei gained 0.63 per cent and Shanghai rose 0.41 per cent.
However, Singapore was flat while Sydney eased 0.19 per cent and Wellington shed 0.15 per cent -- matching Wall Street's lacklustre performance.
Hong Kong was closed for a public holiday.
TOKYO: Share prices ended slightly firmer after a key central bank survey showed business confidence holding steady at close to a two-year high.
The Nikkei-225 index closed up 7.94 points at 18,146.30. An estimated 1.77 billion shares changed hands, up from 1.74 billion shares Friday.
Market watchers noted that the market had held up well given the potential for profit-taking in the absence of any positive surprises from the report.
SYDNEY: Share prices closed the first day of the new financial year 0.19 per cent lower in quiet trade following a lacklustre lead from Wall Street.
Dealers said stocks took their lead from Friday's minor retreat on Wall Street with banks particularly under pressure because of fears of further problems in the US sub-prime mortgage lending market.
The S&P/ASX 200 lost 12.1 points at 6,262.8. Turnover was 1.72 billion shares worth 6.04 billion dollars (5.13 billion US).
SINGAPORE: Share prices closed flat in subdued trading as profit-taking hit select blue chips and property stocks.
Dealers said rotational interest in banks and small-caps provided some support to the index.
The Straits Times Index (STI) closed up 2.14 points at 3,550.34 on volume of 3.67 billion shares worth 1.96 billion dollars (1.28 billion US).
KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed 0.73 per cent higher as gains in selected oil and gas and financial stocks extended the key index's advance amid a mixed trading session.
The composite index closed up 9.99 points at 1,364.37. Volume traded was 977.07 million shares worth 1.66 billion ringgit (483.96 million dollars).
JAKARTA: Share prices closed 1.33 per cent higher at a new all-time high, with sentiment boosted by the better-than-expected June consumer price index data (CPI).
The composite index closed up 28.542 points at 2,167.820 on volume of 3.61 billion shares valued at 3.81 trillon rupiah (422.39 million dollars).
WELLINGTON: Share prices closed 0.15 per cent lower following a downbeat performance on key overseas markets.
The NZX-50 gross index fell 6.28 points to 4,228.01 on turnover worth 107.7 million dollars (83.5 million US).
The local market was still looking for direction, said Don Lewthwaite of First NZ Capital said. Fletcher Building was flat at 12.35 dollars.
MUMBAI: Share prices closed at a record high, in volatile trade as concerns of a hike in interest rates eased.
Dealers said buying sentiment improved on the waning of global and local rate concerns, after the US Federal Reserve kept key rates unchanged last week.
The 30-share Sensex index rose 13.75 points to 14,664.26.
Dealers said also sentiment improved as India's inflation fell to a 14-month low of 4.03 per cent, according to data released last Friday, lowering pressure for a further interest rate hike.
Software stocks, however, fell as the rupee gained against the dollar to 40.66 on Monday from 40.75. Software firms in India bill many of their clients in dollars and a weaker dollar hit earnings.—AFP