Shares end mixed on major exchanges

TOKYO (Agencies): Share prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange dropped on the final day of trading for May settlement yesterday as dealers squared positions and as investors took profits after six consecutive gain.

The key Nikkei average fell 167.83 points -- 0.8 percent -. 59 20.495.80 after gaining 41.51 points Wednesday.

The broader-based Tokyo Stock Price Index, which added 2.5 points Wednesday, closed at 1,650.98, $92, 7.20 points.

In Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng index fell 39.66 points to close at 9,481.71. It hit a high for the day of 9,656.15.

In Bangkok, stocks fluctuated but closed higher on bargain- hunting that focused on the construction materials sector and banking stocks, brokers said.

The SET index rose 7.22 points to 1,356.02, off the day's high of 1,365.68.

In Taipei, the index climbed 77.18 points or 1.34 percent to end at the day's high of 5,852.36.

In Seoul, renewed interest in primary blue chips pushed the market to close higher, brokers said.

The composite stock index added 6.84 points to 950.76, above the widely regarded resistance level of 950.

In Singapore, share prices closed firmer but were mired in small ranges for most of the day.

The 30-share Straits Times Industrials index closed 12.34 points higher at 2,315.20. Volume was 96.71 million shares.

In Sydney, weaker European markets and banking stocks dragged the Australian stock market to a weaker close, but firmer bonds brought it off its lows for the day, brokers said.

The All Ordinaries index ended nine points lower at 2096.9.

In London, the blue-chip Financial Times Stock Exchange 100- share index was at 3,018.0 points, down 2.7 points. The narrower Financial Times 30 index was at 2,393.9 points, down 4.6 points.

In New York, stocks posted modest gains in thin trading Wednesday as the market followed bonds' lead.

The Dow Jones industrial average, which inched up 2.76 points Tuesday, rose another 10.13 points to 3755.30.

The New York Stock Exchange composite index edged up 0.66 to 252.06, while the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index rose 1.53 to 456.34. The average price of a share gained 9 cents.