Asia Roundup: Markets narrowly mixed
Asian stocks closed narrowly mixed yesterday with investors taking to the wings ahead of key economic data due out of the US and possible leads on the future of interest rates. Broadly the mood remained positive with oil prices retreating again in the wake of a ceasefire in Lebanon and the prospect that BP would maintain half of its output in a key Alaskan oil field.
TOKYO: Share prices closed mixed, with the key Nikkei index falling slightly on profit-taking following solid gains the previous day. The Nikkei-225 Index fell 40.92 points, or 0.26 per cent, to 15,816.19. Volume rose to 1.63 billion shares from 1.31 billion shares on Monday.
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Asia Roundup: Markets rally after Fed hints at pause
HONG KONG: Asian stock markets shot higher yesterday on Wall Streets lead after the Federal Reserve (Fed) hinted at a pause in US interest rate rises, soothing fears over slowing global growth, dealers said.
Dealers said that while the Fed left open the possibility of further rate increases it appeared to tone down the risk of inflation while indicating that the US economy also appears to be cooling.
The markets were now taking the view there may be one more rate rise either in August or September to 5.5 per cent and then
Asia Roundup: Stocks continue sharp falls
HONG KONG: Asian stocks continued their sharp decline yesterday with sentiment turning increasingly negative on the short-term outlook amid tumbling commodity prices and volatile trade on Wall Street.
Investors desperately looking for clear direction only got more confusion from very mixed US housing and durable goods data overnight, adding to the uncertainty on future interest rate trends in the United States.
TOKYO: Share prices closed down 1.34 per cent as foreign investors pulled out funds on worries about higher US interest rates and recent falls in commodities prices. The Nikkei-225 index fell 213.45 points to 15,693.75. Volume
Mixed 2006 start in Asia
Korean stocks gain 0.7%, but Taiwan index is 1.3% lower in year's 1st session; Japan markets closed.
If the first day of trade in 2006 is a harbinger in Asia, expect a year of growing political tension, worsening inflation and volatile markets that continue on an upward march - but perhaps not the rocket- like path seen in the latter half of 2005.
In the first day of trading in the new year, shares in Korea and Taiwan, the only two major regional markets open Monday, moved in opposite directions in an otherwise thinly-traded session.
Japanese markets were closed
STOCKS NEWS ASIA-Markets mixed, commodity stocks shine
Asian stock markets were mixed on Tuesday but commodity companies such as global miner BHP Billiton (BHP.AX: Quote, Profile, Research) and energy developer INPEX Holdings (1605.T: Quote, Profile, Research) rose on the back of a surge in metals and oil prices.
Copper and zinc set record highs and U.S. crude rallied 2 percent towards $69 a barrel on Monday, while gold jumped above $600 an ounce to levels last seen in December 1980. Oil was at $68.68 in early Asian trade.
By 0025 GMT, Tokyo stocks < .N225> were flat, up 0.01 percent,
Indian shares fall on mixed Asia; Karachi rises
Indian shares fell nearly 1 percent on Tuesday to end below the 12,000 mark as investors took profits after five sessions of gains and on mixed Asian markets ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday.
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, but investors will look for clues on future rate policy. A slew of U.S. economic data is also expected this week.
The key 30-share BSE index ended down 0.84 percent at 11,970.47 points. Losers beat gainers 1,582 to 924 on trade of 230 million shares.
Heavyweight Reliance Industries
