Asian markets mostly gain
Asian markets mostly gain
HONG KONG (Reuter): The strengthening yen led to volatility on Tokyo's stock markets yesterday but shares on other Asian markets mostly finished stronger.
Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Seoul, Bombay and Bangkok markets strengthened while Manila and Taipei shares finished lower.
The dollar plunged briefly to 97.45 yen during Tokyo morning trade, bludgeoned by massive selling linked with Japan's end- September half-year book closings and dumping of marks for yen by overseas operators.
Tokyo's share market was volatile and the Nikkei 225-share index ended down 0.61 percent at 17,913.06.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended 45.78 points or 0.48 percent higher at 9,646.34 points after a late flurry of buying of property counters.
The SET index in Bangkok ended 2.17 points higher at 1,294.23 after moving below yesterday's close for most of afternoon session.
The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-share BSE index closed 31.33 points higher at a provisional 3,487.85 and the composite 100- share National index gained 2.59 points to a provisional 1,586.04.
The Jakarta composite index rose 1.30 points, or 0.26 percent, to close at 493.24 after reaching the day's high of 494.25.
The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Composite Index ended 8.44 points higher at 1,000.60 after being down 4.15 at midday.
The Philippine key index fell 15.75 points to 2,629.25 points, off from its day's low of 2,606.61 due to late-session short- covering.
Seoul's composite index ended 1.18 points higher at 987.06.
The 30 share Straits Times Industrials index in Singapore surged 12.73 points in late trading to end at the day's high of 2,120.03.
The Australian All Ordinaries index closed 17.80 points higher at 2,135.70.
The Taiwan index ended down 64.99 points or 1.28 percent at 5,013.43.
The Financial Times-Stock Exchange index of 100 leading British shares had risen 21.8 points to 3,500.8.
In Paris, the CAC-40 share index dropped 0.81 to 1,766.77.
The 30-share DAX index in Frankfurt was up 14.78 at 2,186.70.