Share prices mixed in Asia, Europe

Share prices mixed in Asia, Europe

TOKYO (AFP): Share prices ended narrowly mixed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange yesterday in thin volume, due to lack of fresh incentives, brokers said.

The Nikkei Stock Average of 225-selected issues on the first section closed 51.31 points or 0.3 percent lower at 19,563.81 yesterday. The benchmark index gained 107.52 points the previous day.

However, the broader-based Tokyo Stock Price Index in the section, which gained 6.68 points the previous day, finished 0.62 points higher at 1,576.89.

In Hong Kong, stocks took a tumble yesterday on a lack of solid buying incentives, with the Hang Seng Index shedding 178.97 points or 1.85 percent to go into the weekend at 9,521.24.

In Singapore, the blue chip stocks barometer Straits Times Industrial Index closed 16.27 points lower to end provisionally at 2,332.63 from 2,348.90 a day earlier.

In Seoul, share prices made a positive turnaround yesterday, with the Composite Price Index gaining 12.96 points to close out at 1050.51 points.

In Taipei, the 380-issue weighted price index on the Taiwan Stock Exchange declined 10 points, or 0.14 percent, to finish at 7,091.13 points, after a 72.03-point jump the previous session Thursday.

In Bombay, share prices finished lower across the board on the Bombay Stock Exchange for the fourth consecutive day yesterday. The BSE sensitive index, which tracks the fortunes of 30 blue- chip firms, lost 77.30 points to end the week at 4,281.00 points.

In Manila, the Philippine Stock Exchange composite index climbed 16.28 points, or 0.56 percent, to close at 2,908.24 points after rising 0.50 percent on Thursday.

In Kuala Lumpur, the market barometer which tracks 86 quality stocks, closed 3.92 points lower at 1,129.76 from 1,133.68 a day earlier.

In Bangkok, a technical rebound pushed the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) up 3.59 points, or 0.24 percent, yesterday in the thinnest trading in months to a close of 1,485.71 points, brokers said.

In Sydney, the key all ordinaries index finished at 2,028.7 points, 1.9 points down on Thursday's close.

In London, by mid morning yesterday, the FT-SE 100 index was up by 4.2 points to 2,996.7. Gilts were slightly lower.

In Paris, the CAC-40 index rose 0.36 percent to 1,882.91 points. In Frankfurt, the IBIS DAX index was at 2,007.56, down 36.02 points from the previous close.

In Brussels, the BEL 20 index was down 2.57 points to 1,374.74.