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Most Asian Markets Advance, Tokyo Rises
Wednesday June 22, 6:53 am ET
Most Asian Markets Advance, With Tokyo Shares Rising to a Nearly 10-Week High
HONG KONG (AP) -- Most stock markets in Asia climbed Wednesday, with the key index in Japan rising to a nearly 10-week high as investors snapped up construction and real estate issues.
Tokyo's Nikkei Stock Average of 225 issues gained 58.54 points, or 0.5 percent, to 11,547.28 -- its highest level since April 14 when it finished at 11,563.17. It was its second straight session of gains after rising 5.39 points, or 0.1 percent, Tuesday.
"We can attribute the share price rises today in Japan to gains in other markets all over Asia," said Shinko Securities strategist Tsuyoshi Segawa.
Strong markets such as Taipei, Hong Kong and Seoul prompted traders to buy construction issues Kumagai Gumi Co. and Shimizu Corp. and real estate firm Sumitomo Realty and Development Co.
Steady gains for the U.S. technology-rich Nasdaq index also lifted Japanese technology blue chips NEC Corp., Kyocera Corp., Toshiba Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.
Sony Corp. also ended higher after the company's shareholders approved the appointment of its new management led by Welshman Howard Stringer.
The Nikkei had opened nearly flat after a mixed finish in U.S. stocks Tuesday. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.1 percent, while the tech-focused Nasdaq composite index gained 0.1 percent.
Hong Kong shares advanced to a four-month closing high amid expectation of a strong debut Thursday by Bank of Communications Ltd., the first Chinese state-owned bank to list outside of mainland China.
The Hang Seng Index rose 181.67 points, or 1.3 percent, to 14,161.02, its highest close since Feb. 28, when the index finished at 14,195.35. On Tuesday, the Hang Seng edged up 33.58 points, or 0.2 percent.
In currency dealings, the U.S. dollar weakened against the Japanese yen. It bought 108.49 yen in late Tokyo trading, down 0.97 yen from late Tuesday, but above the 108.21 yen it fetched in New York later that day.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares fell after Tuesday's rally on losses by energy and petrochemical issues on concerns over production disruption as a result of water shortage. The Stock Exchange of Thailand Index shed 3.07 points, or 0.5 percent, to 686.57.
BOMBAY: Indian shares ended at a new closing high as foreign funds continued to buy index-related stocks. The Bombay Stock Exchange's Sensitive Index, or Sensex, gained 68.82 points, or 1.0 percent, to 7,145.34, beating its previous closing high of 7,076.52 on Tuesday.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares reversed early losses to end slightly higher as bargain-hunters re-entered the market. The Composite Index was up 1.369 points, or 0.1 percent, at 1,134.692.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares ended at a seven-week high on strong gains in key blue chips Commerce Asset-Holding and IOI Corp. The weighted Composite Index of 100 blue chips gained 7.02 points, or 0.8 percent, at 903.33.
MANILA: Philippine shares rose marginally on a technical rebound after two sessions of losses. The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 4.53 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,958.62.
SEOUL: South Korean stocks advanced, led by financial stocks, amid optimism for an economic recovery in the coming months. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, jumped 12.16 points, or 1.2 percent, to 1,002.15.
SHANGHAI: Chinese shares were pulled higher by late bargain hunting that offset losses on worries about non-tradable share reform. The Shanghai Composite Index edged 0.54 points, or 0.1 percent, higher, to 1,102.03.
SINGAPORE: Share prices rose, as higher oil prices prompted investors to buy into rig builders such as SembCorp Marine and Keppel Corp. The Straits Times Index gained 9.70 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,206.34.
SYDNEY: Australian shares fell for the third straight session amid losses in energy and utility stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 lost 22.20 points, or 0.5 percent, to 4,277.90.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's shares jumped to a 14-month closing high as traders bought computer memory-chip stocks. The Weighted Price Index rose 79.37 points, or 1.3 percent, to 6,357.83, its highest close since April 29, 2004.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares slipped in a mixed session. The NZSX-50 gross index dipped 1.51 points, or 0.1 percent, to 3,177.68. |  |  |  |  |
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