Tokyo, Hong Kong share indexes fall

Dow Jones, Hongkong

Asian stock markets closed mostly mixed Monday, with the key indexes falling in Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Japan's 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average slumped 179.81 points, or 1.7 percent, to 10,452.54. On Friday, it finished up 285.34 points, or 2.8 percent.

Investors locked in profits in reaction to Friday's rallies in Tokyo. But they also sold on fears of prolonged uncertainty following further reports of anthrax in the U.S.

The anthrax scare began Oct. 4 when it was confirmed that a Florida tabloid employee had contracted the inhaled form of the bacteria. His death a day later was the first resulting from the disease in the U.S. since 1976.

The Tokyo market was also pushed down by Friday's declines in blue chips on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 66.29 points to 9344.16 at Friday's close. The Nasdaq Composite Index, however, ended at 1703.40, up 1.93.

The dollar was quoted at 120.98 yen, down 0.36 yen from late Friday in Tokyo and below its late New York level of 121.14 yen on Friday.

In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index lost 143.54 points, or 1.4 percent, to end at 10,130.59. On Friday, the index slumped 248.48 points, or 2.4 percent.

Brokers said investors continued to take profits in telecommunication and banking stocks in the absence of any positive news.

Taiwan shares closed sharply lower on profit-taking as investors remained cautious over the outlook for companies amid the conflict in Afghanistan and fears of bio-terrorism in the U.S.

The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange fell 88.68 points, or 2.3 percent, to 3712.82.

The market was closed in Jakarta for a holiday.

Share prices closed slightly higher in Singapore. The Straits Times Index rose 4.54 points, or 0.3 percent, to 1420.78.

Manila shares ended higher for the second straight session on bargain hunting. The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 22.93 points, or 2.3 percent, to 1040.80.

New Zealand share prices finished higher. The NZSE-40 Capital Index rose 7.31 points, or 0.4 percent, to 1910.01.

The Australian share market closed lower on Friday's declines on Wall Street. The All Ordinaries Index fell 25.10 points, or 0.8 percent, to 3133.90.

South Korean share prices finished mixed. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 0.5 percent, or 2.41 points, to 513.99.

Thai share prices ended lower. The Stock Exchange of Thailand Index fell 2.91 points lower, or 1.0 percent, to 282.06.