Asian stocks fell for a second week, led by Macquarie Bank Ltd and Taiwan Life Insurance Co (
Macquarie Bank, Australia's largest securities firm, erased its gains for the year after saying investors in some of its funds may lose as much as 25 percent of their money. Taiwan Life had its worst week in more than three years after reporting a hedge fund loss.
Taiwan Life dropped 10 percent, the most since the period ended March 26, 2004. The insurer booked a NT$428 million (US$13 million) loss in the first half on its investment in the Bear Stearns High Grade Credit Strategies fund. Taiwan Life wrote off its entire investment in the fund to fully reflect the fund's value, the company said.
The Morgan Stanley Capital International Asia-Pacific Index dropped 1.1 percent to 152.81. The measure plunged 3.9 percent in the five days ended July 27, the worst weekly drop since July 14 last year, amid a rout that wiped out US$2.1 trillion in global market value.
TAIPEI
Taiwanese share prices closed 1.2 percent higher as optimism about company earnings provided additional momentum to a market boosted by sustained gains on Wall Street overnight.
Dealers said solid second-quarter results and positive guidance at Taiwanese companies helped offset concerns about the fallout from problems in the US home loan industry which have roiled global equity markets in recent weeks.
The weighted index rose 107.25 points to 9,057.82 on turnover of NT$172.12 billion.
Beyond Asset Management Co (晉昂證券投顧) president Michael On (洪瑞泰) said the market initially followed Wall Street's lead and advanced for a second consecutive day, with the biggest losers in recent trade leading Friday's gains.
TOKYO
Japanese share prices ended mixed amid persistent concerns about problems in US credit markets despite the extended rebound on Wall Street.
Dealers said investors opted to stay on the sidelines while they awaited the US employment report for last month later on Friday, leaving the benchmark NIKKEI index to slip back below the key 17,000 points level, which it topped in early trade.
The NIKKEI-225 index closed down 4.25 points at 16,979.86.
HONG KONG
Share prices closed 0.42 percent higher as select blue chips and China-related stocks rose with sentiment buoyed by a record-breaking finish on the mainland markets.
Dealers said investors there built strong positions in financial stocks on upbeat interim earnings.
The Hang Seng Index closed up 95.19 points at 22,538.44.
SHANGHAI
Chinese share prices jumped 3.47 percent for another record finish Friday, extending the previous day's rally on strong first-half corporate results.
The Shanghai Composite Index rose 153.04 points or 3.47 percent to 4,560.77.
SEOUL
South Korea share prices closed 1.3 percent higher, recouping some of the recent heavy losses as investors took heart from a further overnight gain on Wall Street.
The KOSPI index ended 23.73 points higher at 1,876.80.
SYDNEY
Australian share prices closed up 0.2 percent in volatile trade as investors remained wary after heavy losses earlier this week on concerns at growing problems in the US home loan market.
The S&P/ASX 200 rose 9.2 points to 6,021.0.
SINGAPORE
Share prices closed flat as the market continued to fret over the US home loans crisis and waited for key US employment data due later in the day.
The Straits Times Index (STI) added 0.58 points to 3,436.04 on volume of 2.54 billion shares.
KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysian share prices closed 0.2 percent higher after a volatile session as investors stayed cautious ahead of the weekend amid lingering concerns over the US credit crunch.
The composite index was up 2.14 points at 1,335.42.
MUMBAI
Indian share prices closed up one percent on bargain-hunting as funds and investors bought benchmark stocks after sharp declines earlier in the week.
The Mumbai stock exchange benchmark 30-share SENSEX index closed up 152.7 points at 15,138.4 after gaining 49.93 points on Thursday.
HANOI
Vietnamese share prices fell 2 percent with the benchmark index closing below the 900 point-level for the first time in almost eight months.
The Ho Chi Minh City bourse's VNIndex fell 18.3 points to 892.88.
The relatively young and small stock market -- which sky-rocketed over 144 percent last year, one of the world's fastest rates -- has dropped back off in recent months from an all-time high of 1,170.67 in mid-March.
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