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.