Asian stock markets close generally higher

Asian stock markets close generally higher

HONG KONG (AP): Asian stock markets closed generally higher Friday, but the key index in Taipei tumbled almost 4 percent on rumors that China was amassing submarines and fishing boats across from the island.

Hong Kong's blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 1.8 percent, or 275.76 points, to close at 15,274.53. On Thursday, the index had slumped 308.51 points, or 2 percent.

In Taiwan, the weighted Stock Price Index slumped 309.09 points, or 3.9 percent, to 7,595.44.

In Tokyo, the Japanese benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed up 192.72 points, or 1.03 percent, to 18,914.50.

In Jakarta, Indonesian shares closed higher on bargain-hunting following sharp losses earlier in the week. The Composite Index rose 7.695 points, or 1.3 percent, to 596.355.

In Seoul, share prices closed lower on massive futures-linked selling by local institutional investors. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 23.55 points, or 2.4 percent, to 949.16.

In Wellington, New Zealand share prices closed higher. The benchmark NZSE-40 Capital Index rose 1.1 percent, or 22.19 points, to 2,137.32.

In Manila, the 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index slipped 2.92 points, or 0.1 percent, to 1,959.55.

In Sydney, the All Ordinaries Index rose 15.9 points, or 0.5 percent, to 3,060.0.

In Kuala Lumpur, the Composite Index, which tracks 100 key stocks, closed at 745.91 points, up 7.31 points, or 1 percent.

In Singapore, Singapore shares closed higher. The benchmark Straits Times Index closed up 33.99 points, or 1.5 percent, at 2,235.85.

In Bangkok, Thai shares closed higher. The Composite Index rose 7.71 points, or 1.9 percent, to 412.31.