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Asian market highlights

TOKYO: Shares in Tokyo ended unchanged after a quiet day on Thursday, consolidating strong gains scored since mid-March.

The 225-share Nikkei average finished up 6.43 points, or 0.03 percent, at 21,471.16 after moving in a narrow range of 21,568.83 and 21,397.21. The June contract rose 160 to 21,670.

"The market might challenge the next high towards next week," said Tadayasu Hasegawa, head of Kokusai Securities" equities department.

HONG KONG: The market is closed from Thursday for the Ching Ming festival and the Easter holidays. It will reopen on Tuesday.

BANGKOK: Thai stocks lost steam after rallying heavily during the previous two days, ending lower in moderate trade as local investors took profits, brokers said.

The SET index closed 9.00 points, or 0.67 percent, down at 1,333.50 on 4.9 billion baht turnover. Decliners trounced gainers 219 to 101 while 110 issues were unchanged.

"Foreign investment was thin unlike the past two days," said a broker at SCB Securities. "The Hong Kong market was closed today and the Thai market was affected as many orders are usually sent through that market."

BOMBAY: A late recovery lifted Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) shares from their lows but failed to take it to positive territory, brokers said.

The 30-share BSE index finished 1.21 points, or 0.04 percent, lower at a provisional 3,406.26 after dipping to 3,376.91.

"The market was topsy-turvy," said one dealer. "The recovery was FII-led (foreign institutional investors) buying."

Most Indian bourses and banks are closed on Good Friday, but the BSE is open for trading, exchange officials said.

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka stocks closed barely moved in sluggish trade as investors moved to the sidelines to sit out April holidays, brokers said.

The Colombo Stock Exchange all share index closed 0.75 points lower at 672.83. Turnvoer was 7.88 million rupees from 56.75 million.

"This is the customary lull you always see in the first half of April due to the many holidays," said a broker.

Friday is a holiday due to Easter. Next week is a four-day long weekend due to Sinhala and Tamil new year.

JAKARTA: Jakarta share prices ended above the 600-point barrier after active foreign-led buying in Telkom, brokers said.

The Jakarta composite index rose 10.02 points, or 1.68 percent, to close at 605.09 points. Gainers led losers by 73 to 46, with 31 issues unchanged.

Brokers said overall trading was moderate.

KUALA LUMPUR: Rumours of a large trade deficit for January and absence of Hong Kong fund managers slowed blue chip demand in largely quiet trading, dealers said.

Bargain hunting supported many stocks which retreated in Tuesday's sell-off, as second liners extended Wednesday's rebound, they said.

The key Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Composite Index edged up 0.43-point, or 0.04 percent, to 1,156.09. MANILA: The market was closed on Thursday ahead of Easter holidays. The market will reopen on Monday.

SEOUL: Korean stocks closed lower on across-the-board falls of blue chips as institutional investors stayed on the sidelines, brokers said.

The composite stock price index ended 3.28 points, or 0.37 percent lower at 881.50.

Despite the index fall, advancers beat decliners by 399 to 354, while 133 stocks were unchanged.

"Blue chips and other large-cap stocks were weak throughout the day as institutions maintained a low-key profile," said Koh Soon-shik of LG Securities. The market will be closed Friday for the Arbour Day holiday.

SHANGHAI: Shanghai's B index closed slightly up on institutional window-dressing buying and trading was the slowest this year with many overseas investors taking an Easter holiday, traders said.

The index shed 0.058 point, or 0.12 percent, to 49.97 points.

Volume was 1.3 million shares, the lowest this year, valued at $437,000. Only 19 shares traded with nine up, three unchanged and seven down.

"The market was very quiet today with many investors taking the holiday," said one broker. "Some window-dressing buying late in the session reversed the downtrend in the morning session."

SHENZHEN: Shenzhen's A share index rose as market sentiment was boosted by reports that Changchai's earnings for 1995 had skyrocketed, brokers said.

There was no trading on Shenzhen's B share market, in line with the closure of the Hong Kong bourse for the Ching Ming Festival and Easter holidays. Trading in hard currency B shares is due to resume on April 9.

The A share index gained 0.91 point to 116.06 as turnover expanded to 217 million yuan from 129 million yuan on Wednesday.

SINGAPORE: Singapore shares ended higher with blue chips leading the way but volumes were modest.

The Straits Times Industrials Index gained 15.38 points, or 0.65 percent, to 2,396.48. Total volume was 84.06 million shares with rises edging out losers by 177 to 150.

SYDNEY: The Australian share market closed moderately lower in shortened trade ahead of the Easter break. A futures sell-down late in the session caused blue chip issues to slip.

The All Ordinaries index finished 11 points, or 0.49 percent, lower at 2,222.5.

The futures sell-off was triggered by investor nervousness ahead of a U.S. March jobs release on Friday.

TAIPEI: Taiwan's stock market was closed on Thursday for a national holiday. It will reopen on Friday.

WELLINGTON: The New Zealand share market closed softer after a session shortened for the Easter holiday.

The NZSE-40 Capital Index fell 0.77 of a point, or 0.04 percent, to 2,132.90.-Reuter