Asian stock market summary

Asian stock market summary

	Published : Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:37 By : Agencies Print this Story

MUMBAI (Thomson Financial) - TOKYO

Share prices closed sharply lower with investor sentiment unnerved by Wall Street's pull-back Friday and gains in the yen that weighed on exporters.

The Nikkei 225 index closed down 194.29 points, or 1.1 pct, at 17,963.64.

SEOUL

Share prices hit a new closing high after investors downplayed the increase in interest rates in China, taking the view that it will not reverse the upward momentum of equity markets around the world.

The KOSPI closed 9.51 points, or 0.5 pct, higher at 1,993.05, surpassing the previous record closing high, set on Friday.

CHINA

Shares across China closed sharply higher, with A-shares closing at a one-month high led by steelmakers and banks, and B-shares also higher after the market absorbed last week's monetary tightening measures.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A- and B-shares listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, closed up 154.51 points, or 3.81 pct, at 4,213.36.

TAIPEI

Shares closed higher as rotational interest offset early losses caused by Wall Street's dip Friday on disappointing results from Caterpillar Inc and Google Inc.

The weighted index closed up 35.67 points, or 0.37 pct, at 9,621.57, off a low of 9,563.72 and a high of 9,637.18, on turnover of 212.64 bln twd.

PHILIPPINES

Shares closed flat amid little activity as investors stayed on the sidelines before President Gloria Arroyo delivers her annual address to Congress later in the day, and after a substantial pullback on Wall Street Friday.

The composite index ended 0.49 point lower at 3,737.79.

AUSTRALIA

Shares ended down on profit booking after key indexes reached record highs on Friday, taking their cues from the sell-off on Wall Street at the end of last week.

The S&P/ASX 200 closed down 31.4 points, or 0.5 pct, at 6,390.4, retreating from Friday's record 6,421.8.

The All Ordinaries Index lost 28.9 points, or 0.5 pct, to settle at 6,427.8.

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