Share prices in China closed little changed, with Shanghai easier on profit-taking in blue chips and the retailers while Shenzhen found some support after news the local government has completed guidelines to restructure listed companies, dealers said.
The Shanghai A-share Index fell 1.72 points or 0.12 percent to 1,424.38 while the Shenzhen A-share Index was up 1.16 points or 0.32 percent at 360.16. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A- and B-shares, closed down 1.61 points or 0.12 percent at 1,356.73.
Australian share prices rose 0.2 percent to yet another all-time record high, supported by strong market fundamentals and increasing returns from capital management programs, dealers said.
They said cash returned to shareholders in the form of share buy-backs and increased dividends is in turn coming back into the market, pushing prices higher on expectations of further capital gains and continuing dividend income streams.
The benchmark SP/ASX 200 index rose 7.9 points to 3,912.1 after hitting a high for the day of 3,917.8, while the broader All Ordinaries index rose 8.1 points to a record finish of 3,922.9.
Singapore share prices closed 0.32 percent lower on profit-taking in blue chips although last-minute bargain hunting limited the downturn, dealers said. The Straits Times Index fell 6.45 points to 2,028.43, off a low of 2,021.48, while the All-Singapore Equities index declined 2.27 points to 519.88.
Malaysian share prices closed 0.39 percent higher in volatile trade as late buying by local funds helped reverse losses in the afternoon, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) was up 3.56 points at 908.72, after trading between 911.92 and 904.24.
Thai share prices closed 0.19 percent higher in lackluster trade, with investors unsettled by the sharp fall in the dollar and its potential impact on exports, dealers said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index added 1.26 points at 648.75 points and the blue-chip SET 50 index was up 0.03 points at 45.47.
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