Archive

          HONG KONG, March 31 (AFP): Asian stocks fared better Thursday after recent losses, posting solid gains as a Wall Street rebound inspired a cautious rally ahead of key US economic data due Friday, dealers said.
They said there was some relief when US data showed fourth quarter growth at 3.8 per cent, unchanged from initial estimates and below forecasts for 4.0 per cent.
Hong Kong share prices closed 0.68 per cent higher. The key Hang Seng Index closed up 91.13 points at 13,516.88, off a low of 13,482.49 and high of 13,556.14. Turnover was 15.85 billion Hong Kong dollars (2.03 billion US dollars). The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index was up 26.80 points or 0.56 per cent at 4,792.77.
BOMBAY: Indian share prices closed 1.75 per cent higher, enjoying a solid rebound in line with the region after recent sustained losses took the market off record highs. The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-share Sensex index rose 111.42 points to 6,498.2.
TOKYO: Japanese share prices closed 0.89 per cent higher. The Tokyo Stock Exchange's benchmark Nikkei-225 index gained 103.07 points to 11,668.95. The broader TOPIX index of all first section shares rose 13.07 points or 1.12 per cent to 1,182.18.
Advancers led declines 1,377 to 210, with 60 stocks unchanged on volume of 1.19 billion shares, down from 1.60 billion Wednesday.
SEOUL: South Korean share prices closed 1.07 per cent higher as Wall Street's overnight bounce and easing crude oil prices encouraged foreign investors to turn buyers after 20 days of selling. The KOSPI index closed up 10.23 points at 965.68, off a high of 970.38 and a low of 961.54. Volume was 427 million shares worth 1.9 trillion won (1.88 billion dollars). Rises led falls by 456 to 254, with 80 unchanged.
TAIPEI: Taiwan share prices closed 0.8 per cent higher. The weighted index closed up 47.90 points at 6,005.88, after trading between 5,995.27 and 6,017.04, on turnover of 70.84 billion Taiwan dollars (2.24 billion US). Risers led decliners 520 to 335, with 162 stocks unchanged.
SHANGHAI: Chinese share prices closed 0.74 per cent higher. The Shanghai A-share Index added 9.14 points to 1,239.27 on turnover of 5.26 billion yuan (635 million dollars) while the Shenzhen A-share Index was up 2.64 points or 0.87 per cent at 305.64 on turnover of 3.11 billion yuan. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A- and B-shares, rose 8.66 points or 0.74 per cent at 1,181.24 on turnover of 5.37 billion yuan.
SYDNEY: Australian share prices closed 0.36 per cent higher. The benchmark SP/ASX 200 index closed up 14.1 points at 4,109.9, off a high of 4,127.2 and a low of 4,102.1. The All Ordinaries index gained 17.1 points to 4,100.7. Turnover was 1.12 billion shares worth 3.62 billion dollars (2.82 billion US), with risers outnumbering fallers 900 to 585 and 410 stocks steady.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed 0.86 per cent higher as bargain hunters stepped in after heavy losses over the past three days. The Straits Times Index rose 18.27 points to 2,141.43 on volume of 626 million shares worth 690 million Singapore dollars (426 million US). Gainers led losers 251 to 162, with 658 stocks unchanged.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.73 per cent lower in listless trade amid light selling in selective blue chips by foreign fund managers. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index fell 6.40 points to 871.35. Volume was 430.08 million shares worth 862.15 million ringgit (227 million dollars), with 457 losers against 293 gainers.
BANGKOK: Thai share prices closed 1.29 per cent higher. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose 8.67 points to 681.70 while the blue-chip SET 50 index was up 0.77 points at 47.29. Gainers led losers 203 to 111 with 87 stocks unchanged on trade of 2.3 billion shares worth 17 billion baht (437 million dollars).
JAKARTA: Indonesian share prices closed 1.41 per cent higher. The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index composite index closed up 15.038 points at 1,080.165 on volume of 2.26 billion shares worth 2.08 trillion rupiah (233.1 million dollars). Gainers led losers 106 to 40, with 63 stocks unchanged.
MANILA: Philippine share prices closed 0.17 per cent higher. The Philippine Stock Exchange composite index gained 3.31 points to 1,954.69 after trading between 1,943.76 and 1,964.43. Volume was 611 million shares worth 2.44 billion pesos (44.6 million dollars.)
WELLINGTON: New Zealand share prices closed flat after a morning rally petered out in afternoon trade. The benchmark NZSX-50 gross index had climbed 30 points by midday but then drifted lower through the afternoon to close down 0.35 points at 3,039.08. Volume was 191.4 million dollars (135 million US), of which Telecom accounted for 88.7 million dollars.