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Asian stock markets close mostly higher |
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August 17, 2000
HONG KONG (AP) - Asian stocks closed mostly higher Wednesday, with Tokyo pulled higher by technology shares and Hong Kong rising on gains of two market heavyweights. Tokyo stocks rose slightly, helped by investors picking technology issues that had shown recent declines, including Sony, Toshiba and Murata Manufacturing. The benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 57.74 points, or 0.4 percent, to 16,353.03. The average rose 0.89 percent Tuesday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index rose 1.6 percent, or 270.62 points, to 17,734.15, pushed higher by sharp gains in property giant Cheung Kong Holdings and telecommunications heavyweight China Mobile. The Hang Seng Index had risen 2.7 percent on Tuesday. In currency dealings, the U.S. dollar was lower against the Japanese yen. The dollar bought 108.80 yen in late trading, down 0.74 yen from late Tuesday in Tokyo and below its level of 109.16 yen from late Tuesday in New York. Elsewhere: BANGKOK: Thai stocks rose on positive second-quarter results of many companies outside the financial sector. The Stock Exchange of Thailand index ended up 6.02 points, or 1.9 percent, at 327.46. JAKARTA: Indonesian shares ended lower in thin trading as the market awaited the announcement of a new government cabinet Monday. The JSX Composite Index plunged 1.0 percent, or 5.179 points, to end at 496.4. KUALA LUMPUR: Shares were led higher by gains in technology and industrial shares. The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange's Composite Index gained 0.5 percent, or 3.73 points, to end at 810.47 points. MANILA: Philippine stocks slipped as investors cashed in on recent gains. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 0.21 point, or 0.01 percent, to 1,473.07. SEOUL: Prices rose on gains in semiconductor shares and substantial foreign buying. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose 17.89 points, or 2.4 percent, to 751.14. SINGAPORE: Shares rallied for the fifth consecutive session as investors continued to buy into property companies and banks. The Straits Times Index rose 32.43 points, or 1.5 percent, at 2,185.87 points. SYDNEY: Australian prices climbed to a record finish, boosted by gains in leading media concern News Corp. The All Ordinaries Index rallied 9.2 points, or 0.3 percent, to 3,293.0. TAIPEI: Taiwanese shares soared, led by semiconductor issues that were buoyed by gains in U.S. chip stocks. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange rallied 157.84 points, or 2.0 percent, at 8,003.53. WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares fell slightly, following a price plunge of market giant Telecom Corp. of New Zealand. The benchmark NZSE-40 capital index slipped 0.11 point, or 0.005 percent, to 2,145.46. |