HONG KONG, Dec 28 (AFP): Asian stocks closed mixed on Wednesday with Tokyo providing a rare highlight, after falls on Wall Street weighed on most markets in thin trade ahead of the New Year holiday, dealers said. Share prices closed 0.54 percent lower following Wall Street's sharp falls overnight, with trade cautious after a long Christmas break and ahead of the new year. The Hang Seng closed down 82.04 points at 15,101.54. Turnover was 13.59 billion Hong Kong dollars (1.74 billion US). Property stocks were flat to lower, with Cheung Kong down 0.25 at 80.70. MUMBAI: Share prices closed 0.28 percent lower in volatile trade ahead of the end of the calendar year. "Trading was volatile as prices rose in early trade, but later slipped as a year-end lacklustre mood seemed to set in," said a dealer with a leading foreign brokerage. The 30-share Sensex slipped 25.65 points to 9,257.51. Volumes were moderate at 34.69 billion rupees (770 million dollars) as 1,094 stocks gained. TOKYO: Share prices closed up 1.41 percent at their highest levels in more than five years on hopes that the world's number two economy will continue on the mend in 2006. The Nikkei-225 index rose 225.21 points to 16,194.61, its best finish since September 22, 2000. SEOUL: Share prices closed 0.39 percent lower tracking Wall Street's heavy losses with the index closing above its lows, however, on hopes of strong production data, with some IT and financials rebounding on institutional support. The KOSPI index closed down 5.39 points at 1,368.16. Volume was 364 million shares worth 4.1 trillion won (4.05 billion dollars). TAIPEI: Share prices closed down 0.11 percent as hopes of a liquidity-driven rally in January helped the market recover most of its early losses arising from Wall Street's falls overnight. Grand Cathay Investment Services Corp chairman Tu Jin-lung said many investors chose to stay on the sidelines as the year-end approaches. The weighted index closed down 7.19 points at 6,524.40, off a low of 6,479.34, on turnover of 97.50 billion Taiwan dollars (2.94 billion US). SHANGHAI: Share prices closed slightly higher, up 0.24 percent led by late institutional buying of steel makers and telecom issues after a recent consolidation. The Shanghai A-share Index added 2.91 points to 1,216.80 on turnover of 6.56 billion yuan (808.88 million US dollars) while the Shenzhen A-share Index was up 0.98 point or 0.34 percent at 289.76 on turnover of 4.02 billion yuan. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B-shares, closed up 2.75 points or 0.24 percent at 1,157.03 on turnover of 6.59 billion yuan. SINGAPORE: Share prices closed 0.13 percent higher with a slump in Singapore Telecommunications dragging on the market but with gains in selected properties. The Straits Times Index closed up 2.95 points at 2,337.89. Volume traded was 482 million shares worth 379 million Singapore dollars (227 million US). KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed 0.12 percent higher in fairly quiet trade as many investors remained on the sidelines ahead of the New Year holiday. The Composite Index was up 1.04 points to 895.55. Volume was 310.67 million shares, worth 454.71 million ringgit (120 million dollars). BANGKOK: Share prices closed 0.16 percent lower in line with a sharp fall on Wall Street, with investors staying on the sidelines ahead of the new year. The Composite Index fell 1.11 points to 705.36 on turnover of 2.2 billion shares worth 9.9 billion baht (243 million dollars) traded. JAKARTA: Share prices closed 0.21 percent higher in quiet trade ahead of the New Year holiday. Financial markets will be closed on Friday. The Composite Index closed up 2.436 points at 1,164.143 on thin volume of 519.12 million shares valued at 486.52 billion rupiah (49.51 million dollars). MANILA: Share prices closed 1.02 percent lower as investors locked in profits ahead of the New Year long weekend. The Composite Index fell 21.28 points to 2,067.32. Volume amounted to 265.28 million shares worth 666.3 million pesos (12.6 million dollars.)
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