Asian bourses mostly fall

Asian bourses mostly fall

HONG KONG (Reuter): The early strength of the dollar led the Tokyo stock market to a higher close yesterday, in contrast to most bourses across the rest of Asia, brokers said.

Hong Kong shares were down for the eighth straight trading day, losing 82.66 points, or 0.92 percent, to 8,924.27. Markets in Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta and Seoul also closed weaker.

Manila closed marginally up, the index gaining 0.11 percent to 2,877.36 points. Bombay shares also finished 8.05 points higher 3,412.65.

Tokyo's 225-share Nikkei index gained 124.23 points, or 0.74 percent, to 16,916.57 points.

The weighted Taipei index ended down 145.00 points or 3.12 percent at 4,503.37, off a 4,499.95 low.

The Jakarta composite index fell 3.24 points, or 0.63 percent, to close at 515.93 after touching the day's low of 514.77.

The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange's Composite Index ended down 6.18 points to 1,048.25.

The Straits Times Industrials Index in Singapore fell 13.71 points to 2,064.09, off the day's high at 2,082.73.

The Australian All Ordinaries index fell 9.6 points, or 0.45 percent, to 2,118.0.