Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Asian shares mixed in thin year-end trade
AFP - 1 hour 20 minutes ago
TOKYO (AFP) - - Asian stock markets were mixed Monday in thin year-end trade, with some profit-taking by investors who are bracing for what will likely be a volatile 2009.
Dealers said post-Christmas, pre-New Year volumes were low and there appeared to be no firm direction as many investors were waiting on the sidelines until January.
Tokyo's Nikkei index was down 0.38 percent in early afternoon trade while Shanghai fell 1.11 percent. Taipei and Seoul were also down.
But Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended the morning up 0.2 percent as mild bargain-hunting reversed earlier losses. Singapore, Australia and New Zealand were also in positive territory.
Tokyo, the region's largest market, closes with a half-day session on Tuesday and reopens on January 5.
"Since we only have one more morning session tomorrow before the market closes for this year, investors would not want to take positions before the long holidays," said Daisuke Uno of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.
Shares in insurers soared on reports of a three-way merger to shield Japan's non-life insurance companies from the global financial crisis.
But dealers took profits in other shares after the Nikkei rose to a six-week high last week.
In Shanghai, steelmakers dragged down the market on concerns over weak corporate performances due to the global crisis.
"Investors' sentiment remains weak as they are still worrying about corporate earnings in the fourth quarter," Wang Junqing, an analyst at Guosen Securities, told Dow Jones Newswires.
Uno said the Asian market which saw the most action was Seoul, where the central bank said South Korea's capital investment is expected to drop for the second consecutive year.
Seoul's key Kospi index was down 1.2 percent at midday.
"The remarks by the president likely cast a shadow also on the market trading," Uno said.
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak said Saturday that the country's economy could shrink in the first half of next year for the first time since the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
Asian markets have tumbled this year as the global credit crisis saps up liquidity and drags down the world economy. The International Monetary Fund's top economist warned last week of a second Great Depression.
Australia closed up 1.1 percent. Among other markets, Taipei was off 0.83 perent and Bangkok dropped 0.78 percent.
Markets were closed in Malaysia and the Philippines.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Business
Sterling extends losses, hits record low vs euroReuters - 15 minutes ago
India cbank offers 553.65 bln rupees at special repoReuters - 21 minutes ago
Hyundai India says to export 120,000 i20 units in 09Reuters - 23 minutes ago
GM supplier Delphi suspends work at China factoryAP - 25 minutes ago
Russia's Prokhorov may up RUSAL stake -paperReuters - 25 minutes ago
Enlarge Photo
Asian shares mixed in thin year-end trade
Related Photos
Slideshow Full Photo Coverage: Business & Economy
Most Popular – Business
Viewed
Actress Jennifer Aniston appears naked in GQ magazine
Woolworths to close quarter of stores
At least 210 dead as Israel hammers Hamas-run Gaza
Chances of gas cut '50-50', Russia warns Ukraine
Stars of Hollywood, high-tech open wallets for Obama party
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular