Asia-Pacific stock markets close mixed
Asia-Pacific stock markets close mixed
HONG KONG (AFP): Asia-Pacific stock markets closed mixed yesterday amid jitters over Indonesia's standoff with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Tokyo ended down 0.9 percent, hit by profit-taking, while concerns over Indonesia's evolving crisis saw Jakarta ease 3.2 percent, Singapore 2.1 percent, Kuala Lumpur 0.6 percent and Seoul 3.5 percent.
Gainers included Hong Kong, Bangkok, Sydney and Taipei. Hong Kong shares rose 0.7 percent, supported by banks and a recovery in property stocks, despite earlier jitters over an IMF decision to withhold bailout funds to Indonesia.
The key Hang Seng index closed the day up 74.56 points at 10,994.09, off a low of 10,697.94 and a high of 11,006.88 on turnover of US$5.93 billion (US$766 million).
In Tokyo, Japanese share prices closed 0.9 percent lower, hit by late profit taking that wiped out earlier gains on optimism about the government's new economic measures, brokers said.
The key Nikkei stock average of 225 selected issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 159.44 points to end the day at 16,972.53, while the broader Topix index of all first section issues dropped 11.14 points to 1,276.81.
In Singapore, benchmark stock index closed 2.1 percent lower on profit-taking and concerns over the political and economic situation in Indonesia.
"The Indonesian factor was definitely a dampener in today's trading," a senior dealer with a listed brokerage said.
The Straits Times Industrials index closed 32.49 points lower at 1,538.66, while the more broadly-based All-Singapore Index fell 6.00 points to 405.18.
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's key stock index closed 0.6 percent lower on the back of a declining ringgit amid gloomy news in the corporate scene and developments in Indonesia, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange's 100-share weighted composite index ended at 685.88 points, down 4.48 points from Friday's close.
In Australia, shares rose half a percentage points amid light trading as the market shrugged off mixed news from Asia, opting to take its lead from London and Wall Street, brokers said.
The Australian Stock Exchange's key All Ordinaries index closed at 2,680. 7, up 13.1 points.
In Bangkok, Thai shares gained 0.4 percent despite worries over the direction of the Indonesian economic crisis and the effect it could have on the region, analysts said.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index finished 1.91 points firmer at 509.98, while the SET 50 selected index grew 0.24 points to 37.98.
In Manila, Philippine share prices closed 0.3 percent lower in sideways trade and thin volume, analysts said.
The Philippine Stock Exchange composite index fell 6.55 points to close at 2,175.41 points.
In Seoul, share prices closed 3.5 percent lower on the Korea Stock Exchange with mounting tension in Indonesia pushing investors to the sidelines amid an absence of fresh leads, dealers said.
The composite index closed down 18.27 points at 507.71.
In Taipei, Taiwan stocks inched up 0.4 percent as investors switched their sights from technology plays to low-priced issues, brokers.
The Taiwan Stock Exchange weighted price index rose 36.62 points to 8,887. 36.
In Shanghai, the B shares, nominally reserved for foreign investors, ended barely changed Monday on low turnover, dealers said.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange's B share index lost 0.04 point to close at 54. 79 points while the A share index of locally-traded stocks ended down 6.03 points to 1,266.32 points.
In New Zealand, shares closed down 1.2 percent on turnover of NZ$76.1 million (US$43.9 million).
The NZSE-40 index was down 26.71 points to 2,246.18 with Telecom, which accounted for 17.3 points of the fall, down one cent to 8.06 dollars after dividend and imputation tax credits were removed.