Asia-Pacific bourses mixed ahead of U.S. rate decision

Asia-Pacific bourses mixed ahead of U.S. rate decision

TOKYO (AFP): Share markets in the Asia-Pacific region closed
mixed yesterday with many investors sidelined ahead of a U.S.
decision on interest rates later in the week, broker said.

In Tokyo, share prices rallied to close at the year's high
with the key market barometer rising 0.8 percent on purchases of
selected blue-chip leaders and issues related to domestic demand.

The Nikkei Stock Average of 225 leading issues rose 165.02
points to finish at 20,489.75, the highest finish for the year.
It topped 20,500 at one point for the first time in about five
months.

In Jakarta, share prices closed 0.7 percent lower in
lackluster trade with most blue chips showing declines on the
back of weakening regional sentiment, dealers said.

The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index was down 4.52
points at 652.55.

In Hong Kong, share prices rose 0.3 percent as investors
sought property stocks amid expectations that U.S. authorities
would raise interest rates by 25 basis points.

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong's key Hang Seng index rose
46.45 points to finish at 14,108.82.

In Sydney, shares closed 0.3 percent down as strong buying in
the resource sector failed to counter a wave of profit-taking in
bank stocks, brokers said here.

The Australian Stock Exchange's key barometer, the all
ordinaries index, fell 7.1 points to 2,531.0.

In Kuala Lumpur, stock exchange's 100-share weighted composite
index fell 0.52 point to 1,041.39 after reaching an intra-day low
of 1,029.63. The second board index rose 19.81 points, or 3.8
percent, to 535.88.

In Singapore, blue-chip share prices closed 0.5 percent lower
with investors sidelined ahead of the release of key Singapore
trade numbers and a U.S. decision on interest rates.

The Stock Exchange of Singapore's blue-chip benchmark, the
Straits Times Industrials index, fell 9.56 points to 2,050.94.
The broader All-Singapore index dropped 4.25 points to 495.17.

In Seoul, share prices rose 2.1 percent on the Korea Stock
Exchange due to improved prospects for economic recovery and an
easing of political concerns triggered by the Hanbo scandal,
dealers said.

The composite index surged 14.95 points to close at 721.20.

In Bangkok, the stock exchange of Thailand (SET) broad-based
index was up 15.91 points at 577.10 points, while the selected
SET-50 index gained 1.48 points to close at 42.14 points.

In Manila, share prices fell 2.6 percent as foreign and local
investors stayed away from the bourse on a lack of market-moving
news.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index lost 66.77 points to end
at 2,509.36.

In Taipei, share prices in Taiwan finished 0.4 percent lower
in light trading as investors retreated to the sidelines due to
political concerns.

The Taiwan Stock Exchange weighted price index declined 33.58
points to 8, 107.54.

In Wellington, the key stock exchange-40 capital index closed
7.28 points lower at 2,307.56.

In Shanghai, stock exchange's B share index rose 0.52 points
to close at 84.95 points. The A share index of domestically-
traded shares rose 30.56 points, or 2.2 percent, to 1,406.47.