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| Asia markets mixed in quiet trade |
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30-DEC-2008 Intellasia | Business Times | AFP |
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30 Dec, 2008 - 7:03:00 AM |
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Asian stocks were mixed yesterday in quiet year-end trade, with investors remaining on the sidelines as they brace for what is likely be a volatile 2009
Shares in oil, gas and minerals were among the top gainers after global crude and copper prices ticked up.
The Manila and Jakarta stock markets were closed for public holidays.
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| File photo shows traders at work in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. European stock markets rose strongly in thin trade on Monday as Asian equities posted a mixed performance ahead of the New Year holiday break.
(AFP/File/Mike Clarke) |
TOKYO: Share prices ended a notch higher in thin holiday trade as insurance stocks soared on news of a merger to form the country's top non-life insurer.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose just 7.65 points or 0.09% to close at 8.747.17. The broader Topix index of all first section issues finished up 8.19 points or 0.97% at 854.77.
The Tokyo market opens for a half-day session today before closing for new year holidays until January 5.
HONG KONG: Share prices closed 1% higher yesterday, supported by bargain hunting after four consecutive days of losses, dealers said. The Hang Seng Index rose 144.34 points at 14,328.48. The rise came after an 8.5% drop in the index over the previous four days. But analysts did not see the rebound lasting as they expected disappointing corporate results to be issued in the first quarter of 2009.
SINGAPORE: Shares closed up 3.18% in sluggish trade yesterday as investors remained on the sidelines ahead of the new year. The blue-chip Straits Times Index gained 54.96 points to 1,780.57.
KUALA LUMPUR: Closed for holidays.
SYDNEY: Shares closed 1.1% stronger yesterday as energy and gold stocks led the market higher. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 gained 38.9 points to 3,621.1 while the broader All Ordinaries rose 39.2 points, or 1.12%, to 3,554.2.
SHANGHAI: Shares closed flat as pessimism over corporate earnings and a slowing economy cancelled out gains from bargain hunting late in the session. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index ended down 1.04 points or 0.06% at 1,850.48.
TAIPEI: Share prices closed down 0.20% in quiet trade ahead of the New Year holiday. The weighted index fell 8.92 points to 4,416.16.
SEOUL: Shares were flat as bargain-hunting by local pension funds offset ex-dividend falls in telecom companies and oil refiners. The Kospi fell 0.27 points to 1,117.59.
BANGKOK: Shares ended flat as investors stayed on the sidelines before the market closes for the new year break. The composite index gained 0.08 points to close at 446.70 points while the blue-chip SET-50 index lost 0.12 points to 313.67.
MUMBAI: Shares gained 2.19%, spurred by strong European markets and hopes of a further cut in interest rates. The benchmark Sensex index rose 204.60 points to 9,533.52.
VIETNAM: The Ho Chi Minh Stock Indexfinished the day at 308.56 points after a small gain of 4.10 points or 1.35%. Hanoi's HASTC Index fell a slight 0.11% or 0.12points to close at 105.50.
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