The stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region closed higher on Thursday, spurred by gains on Wall Street overnight and better-than-expected economic data of the United States, despite the fear of a global swine flu pandemic.
Hong Kong stocks surge 564.04 points, or 3.77 percent, on Thursday to 15,520.99, and the market turnover moved up to 70.91 billion HK dollars (about 9.16 billion U.S. dollars) from Wednesday's 50.70 billion HK dollars.
Traders said the Chinese mainland market is likely to consolidate in the near term following its recent strong rally and on concerns that swine flu could hinder the global economic recovery.
Chinese equities rose for a second trading day in a row Thursday, led by cement and machinery shares.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed at 2,477.57 points, up 9.38 points, or 0.38 percent. The Shenzhen Component Index rose 1.27 percent to 9,502.52 points, up 119.31 points.
Combined turnover climbed to 194.14 billion yuan (28.45 billion U.S. dollars) from 179.16 billion yuan on the previous trading day.
In Japan, Tokyo stocks closed sharply higher, with the key Nikkei index up 3.94 percent. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Average soared 334.49 points to 8,828.26.
On Thursday, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said the country's industrial output saw the first monthly growth in six months, up by 1.6 percent month-on-month on a seasonally adjusted basis in March.
A rise in the production of high-tech and machinery industries contributes to the expansion of the industrial output figures, said the ministry in a preliminary report.
The index of production at mines and factories read 70.6, compared with 100 for the base year of 2005, it said.
The index of industrial shipments advanced 1.4 percent to 73.0 while that of industrial inventories lost 3.3 percent to 100.1.
The Australia share market closed higher Thursday, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index surging 85.2 points, or 2.31 percent, to 3,780.5, while the broader All Ordinaries lifted 82.8 points, or 2.26 percent, to 3,744.7.
The New Zealand stock market closed 1.51 percent higher with the benchmark NZSX-50 up 40.87 points at 2740.59, with a turnover of 148 million NZ dollars (83.69 million U.S. dollars).
Taiwan stocks rose 378.51 points, or 6.74 percent, to close at 5,992.57, with the turnover amounting to 136.88 billion New Taiwan dollars (about 4.12 billion U.S. dollars) from Wednesday's 112.49 billion New Taiwan dollars (3.34 billion U.S. dollars).
The Philippines stocks closed 2.06 percent higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index surging 42.45 points to 2,103.50 as the All Shares index went up 18.72 points or1.40 percent to 1,359.78.
South Korea's shares closed higher Thursday on massive foreign buying. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped 30.94 points, 2.31 percent, to close at a yearly high of 1,369.36.
Bangladesh's main bourse -- Dhaka Stock Exchange All Shares Price Index (DSI), closed at 2,119.85 points on Thursday, up 0.61 points or 0.03 percent from Wednesday' s finish.
The Indonesian index closed up 78.581 points, or 4.78 percent, to 1,722.76, prompted by regional markets positive sentiment following the U.S. Federal Reserve's optimism on the country's economy and positive financial statements from domestic public companies.
Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) rose 23.28 points, or 2.35 percent, to 990.74, and the Emas was at 6,541.86 up 154.61 points.
Singapore's shares prices rose 70.71 points or 3.82 percent with the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) closed at 1,920.28 points.
Thailand's Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index moved up 8.19points, or 1.69 percent, to close at 491.69 points on Thursday.
The Asia stock rally came amid global concerns for the swine flu pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised pandemic alert level to phase five as more countries reported suspected or confirmed cases of swine flu on Thursday.
Global stocks were dragged down earlier this week following the outbreak of the swine flu in Mexico, which is expected to have great impact on global tourism and trade.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article