HONG KONG, July 9: Asian stocks closed higher on Monday, with more records tumbling, with investors picking up on a solid US employment report to signal the US economy has got through its first quarter soft patch and is in sound health once more, dealers said.
They said further gains on Wall Street Friday after the slightly better than expected June new job figures got the region off to a good start while a continued Chinese rebound after recent volatility added to the positive tone.
That helped offset jitters over rising oil prices but the jury remains out on the outlook for inflation and interest rates -- the US data suggested the Federal Reserve will not now cut lending costs but will it raise them instead?
TOKYO: Japanese share prices closed at a fresh seven-year high, lifted by better-than-expected machinery orders data, a weaker yen and a positive lead from Wall Street, dealers said.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange's benchmark Nikkei-225 index of leading shares climbed 121.04 points or 0.67 percent to 18,261.98. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares added 12.56 points or 0.71 percent to 1,792.23.
Gainers beat decliners 1,125 to 462, with 140 stocks flat.
Turnover rose to 1.7 billion shares from 1.68 billion on Friday.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices rose 1.27 per cent as follow-through interest in blue chips helped the market extend its record-breaking run to a fifth straight session, dealers said.
The Hang Seng Index closed up 285.69 points at 22,817.43, off a low of 22,601.65 and just off a new all time-high of 22,818.32.
SYDNEY: Australian share prices rose 0.78 per cent to chalk up another record finish, with the key resource stocks once more leading the way, dealers said.
They said support for top miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto was the driving force for the record-breaking performance, with European investors believed to be major buyers of the two stocks.
The key S&P/ASX 200 ended up 49.5 points at 6,400.6, beating the previous record close of 6,397.0 set on June 20.
SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices closed 1.82 per cent higher, supported by gains in the banks and other blue chips, dealers said.
The benchmark Straits Times Index jumped 64.76 points to 3,626.72, within touching distance of the record finish of 3,639.49 set on June 21.
Volume was 4.58 billion shares worth 2.56 billion dollars (1.67 billion US). Gains led falls 633 to 263, with 612 stocks unchanged.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.35 per cent higher, supported by gains in select blue-chips in the oil and gas and construction sectors, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 4.85 points at 1,378.69. Volume was 1.366 billion shares worth 2.13 billion ringgit (619.2 million dollars) while gainers led losers 584 to 345 and 280 stocks were unchanged.
JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices jumped 1.99 per cent to another record close, driven by Wall Street's gains and expectations of strong first-half corporate results, dealers said.
The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index rose 44.293 points to 2,271.344, off a new intraday high of 2,272.719. Volume was 4.96 billion shares worth 5.74 trillion rupiah (635.31 million dollars).
WELLINGTON: New Zealand share prices closed 0.36 per cent higher, as a retreat by the strong New Zealand dollar boosted stocks of exporters, dealers said.
The benchmark NZX-50 gross index was up 15.12 points at 4,238.65 on turnover worth 83.57 million dollars (64.79 million US). Rises outnumbered falls 64 to 34.
MUMBAI: Indian share prices rose 0.55 per cent to chalk up another record finish, this time holding above the historic 15,000 points level in trade led by software and telecom stocks, dealers said.They said buying sentiment improved on sustained interest in software and telecom companies against a backdrop of fast-paced economic growth in the South Asian economy.
The benchmark 30-share Sensex index closed up 81.61 points to a record 15,045.73, just off an intraday high of 15,085.22.
The previous intraday record of 15,007.22 was set on Friday.
The rupee was at near decade highs of 40.41 against the dollar.—AFP