Tokyo shares close higher

TOKYO (AFP): Share prices rose on the Tokyo Stock Exchange yesterday, heartened by the dollar's advance, an overnight rebound on Wall Street and the end of a political stalemate at home.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average closed 165.03 points or 0.8 percent higher at 19,964.39.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all issues on the first section also gained 8.30 points to 1,615.80.

Turnover on the major board totaled an estimated 300 million shares, against 246.47 million shares traded in the previous session.

In Hong Kong, stock prices soared 2.49 percent in bargain hunting after six consecutive falls.

The key Hang Seng Index rose 222.26 points across the board to close the week's trading at 9,156.85 -- after falling to a month's low of 8,934.59 the previous day.

Turnover amounted to HK$5.35 billion (US$686 million), against the previous day's HK$4.85 billion.

In Singapore, share prices rose in the Stock Exchange of Singapore on the back of a strong Wall Street recovery, dealers said.

The blue-chip Straits Times Industrials index gained 34.30 points to close provisionally at 2,265.59 points.

In Bangkok, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index followed the lead of major markets around the world and climbed 13.58 points (1.06 percent) to close at 1,293.64, one broker said.

Trading was the heaviest in recent weeks with 97.9 million shares worth 9.6 billion baht ($384 million) changing hands.

In Sydney, Australian shares closed higher due to positive offshore signals and firmer bonds, but gains were limited by a weak futures market, brokers said.

The key market barometer, the All Ordinaries index, closed at 2,042.5 points, 12.9 above Thursday's finish. The All Industrials index rose 16.5 points to 3,123.4 and the All Resources index firmed 10.4 points to 1,220.6.

National turnover totaled 176.1 million shares worth A$407.1 million ($290 million), with rises outnumbering falls by four to three.

Share prices rose in London and Paris in early trading in response to a strong performance on Wall Street and a cut in French interest rates on Thursday, dealers said.

In London, the FT-SE 100 index of leading shares rose by 15.6 points or by 0.5 percent to 3,116.8 points.

In Paris, the CAC-40 index rose by 1.51 percent to 2,123.62.

In New York, Wall Street rose sharply Thursday, propelled by falling long-term interest rates on the bond market and strong performances by high technology stocks.

The Dow Jones index of 30 leading industrials closed at 3,652.54, up 53.83 points. Trading was heavy with 379 million shares changing hands.