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HONG KONG, Feb 24 (AFP): Asian stocks closed with solid gains Thursday, bouncing back from heavy losses Wednesday as Wall Street and the forex markets steadied after an outbreak of nerves over high oil prices and a possible Asian sell-off of the dollar, dealers said.
TOKYO: Japanese share prices closed 0.27 percent higher after tame US consumer price data eased inflation fears and helped a modest recovery in US stocks, dealers said.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange's benchmark Nikkei-225 index gained 30.97 points to 11,531.15. The broader TOPIX index of all First Section shares rose 4.59 points or 0.40 percent to 1,157.54.
SEOUL: South Korean share prices closed 1.93 percent higher with steel giant POSCO and key IT stocks leading the way as sentiment got a boost from Wall Street's overnight gains and steadier foreign exchange markets, dealers said.
The KOSPI index closed up 18.67 points at 987.10, off a high of 989.27 and a low of 971.54. Volume was 573 million shares worth 3.2 trillion won (3.2 billion dollars). Rises led falls by 601 to 164, with 51 stocks unchanged.
HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed 0.74 percent higher following Wall Street's overnight gains, with retailer Esprit outperforming after its strong first-half results, dealers said.
The key Hang Seng Index closed up 102.97 points at its daily high of 14,060.91, off a low of 13,956.14, on turnover of 17 billion Hong Kong dollars (2.17 billion US dollars). The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index closed up 15.35 points or 0.31 percent at 4,934.50.
TAIPEI: Taiwan share prices closed little changed as foreign investors, reversing weeks of strong buying, opted to take some profits, dealers said.
The weighted index closed up 6.82 points or 0.11 percent at 6,128.34, off a low of 6,109.90 and a high of 6,171.56, on turnover of 98.36 billion Taiwan dollars (3.16 billion US).
SHANGHAI: Chinese share prices closed flat after managing to come off early lows as bargain hunters continued to seek out computer and auto stocks, dealers said.
The Shanghai A-share Index gained 0.51 points or 0.04 percent to 1,375.26 on turnover of 11.27 billion yuan (1.36 billion dollars), while the Shenzhen A-share Index was up 0.83 points or 0.25 percent at 339.50 on turnover of 6.39 billion yuan.
SINGAPORE: Singapore share prices closed 0.76 percent higher to end three days of losses, boosted by a rise in US stocks overnight, dealers said.
The Straits Times Index climbed 16.17 points to 2,152.59. Volume was one billion shares valued at 977 million Singapore dollars (599 million US), from 728 million shares worth 726 million dollars on Wednesday. Gainers led decliners 235 to 203, with 565 stocks unchanged.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.45 percent higher in moderately active trade, as the benchmark index passed the psychologically important 900-points level, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) was up 3.96 points at 903.64. Volume was 500.70 million shares worth 889.04 million ringgit (234 million dollars). Gainers led losers 394 to 295, while 362 stocks were unchanged and 250 untraded.
BANGKOK: Thai share prices closed 0.87 percent higher bolstered by impressive fourth quarter corporate earnings and dividends, analysts said.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index gained 6.33 points to close at 736.89 and the blue-chip SET 50 index was up 0.59 points at 51.73.
JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices closed flat as profit-taking in second-liners was offset by gains in select stocks such as Astra International, dealers said.
The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index closed down 0.907 points or 0.08 percent at 1,102.019, on volume of 1.78 billion shares valued at 1.59 trillion rupiah (172.8 million dollars).
BOMBAY: Indian share prices closed flat as investors stayed mainly on the sidelines amid uncertainty ahead of next week's budget, dealers said.
The Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark 30-share Sensex index fell 8.29 points or 0.13 percent to 6,574.21.
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