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Fed rate cut bolsters Asian stocks

Asian stocks rose this week after the US Federal Reserve cut its benchmark lending rate by half a percentage point to bolster growth in the world's largest economy.

Nintendo Co, the No. 1 maker of portable game players, advanced for the first time in three weeks. BHP Billiton Ltd led commodities shares higher after oil jumped to a record. Posco, South Korea's biggest steelmaker, surged to a high after US steel inventories fell.

"There's a good chance the US will avoid a recession and that's behind this relief rally," said Leslie Phang, who helps oversee US$1 billion at Commonwealth Private Bank in Singapore. "Investors will be more confident taking on more risk."

The Morgan Stanley Capital International Asia-Pacific Index added 2.3 percent to 155.81, as nine out of the 10 industry groups advanced.

Japan's NIKKEI 225 Stock Average advanced 1.2 percent this week. All markets in the region climbed, except for Sri Lanka. Benchmarks set records in Hong Kong, India and China.

TAIPEI

Taiwanese share prices closed up 1.36 percent on Friday as gains in old-economy stocks offset concerns over Wall Street's lackluster showing, the weak US dollar and strong oil prices.

The weighted index closed up 122.25 points from Thursday at 9,105.28, the highest closing level since the 9,182.60 posted on Aug. 9. Turnover was NT$137.74 billion (US$4.19 billion).

The cement sector was up 6.74 percent, paper jumped 4.8 percent, textiles rose 3.62 percent, petrochemicals gained 2.65 percent, steel added 2.23 percent and electronics rose 1.54 percent. But the financial sector bucked the upward trend, losing 1.39 percent.

"Old-economy stocks outperformed on the back of a buying spree sparked by the upswing in [the price of] products such as cement and others," Mega International Investment Services (兆豐國際投顧) assistant vice president Alex Huang (黃國偉) said.

TOKYO

Japanese share prices lost ground, following Wall Street lower as worries about the outlook for the US economy and record high oil prices prompted investors to take profits.

The NIKKEI-225 index of leading shares closed down 101.18 points or 0.62 percent at 16,312.61. The broader TOPIX index of all first-section shares dropped 14.77 points or 0.94 percent to 1,552.07.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong share prices closed at another record high, up 0.56 percent in volatile trade amid strong gains in commodities and airline issues.

The Hang Seng Index closed up 142.65 points at 25,843.78. Some dealers said investors appeared to be ignoring fundamentals and chasing new highs, and warned of a correction ahead.

Shares in Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific Airways (國泰航空) were suspended from trading, ending up HK$2.2, or 10.7 percent, at HK$22.70 before the midday break. In a statement to the stock exchange, the company said trading had been suspended pending release of announcement about "a proposed transaction which constitutes price sensitive information."

SHANGHAI

Chinese shares closed 0.28 percent lower on worries that a flood of pending new share issues would slow down the growth of the market and drive shares down.

The Shanghai Composite Index, covering both A and B shares, closed down 15.39 points or 0.28 percent at 5,454.67.

The Shanghai A-share Index fell 16.17 points or 0.28 percent to 5,725.37 and the Shenzhen A-share Index was down 6.82 points or 0.43 percent at 1,574.08.

SEOUL

South Korean share prices closed up 0.5 percent as the bourse got what dealers called a last-minute boost from hopes for positive earnings reports.

The benchmark KOSPI index closed up 10.29 points at 1,919.26, off a high of 1,921.23.

SYDNEY

Australian share prices closed down 0.6 percent, with the banking sector hardest hit as fears about the health of the US economy refused to go away.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 shed 35.8 points to close at 6,357.9 while the broader All Ordinaries lost 29.7 points to end at 6,371.2.

SINGAPORE

Singapore share prices closed down 0.29 percent amid continued caution about the outlook for the US economy given record-high oil prices and the weaker dollar.

The Straits Times Index (STI) fell 10.24 points to 3,542.22 on volume of 1.77 billion shares.

KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysian share prices closed down 0.2 percent in a mixed market as losses due to profit-taking on blue chips were limited by gains in plantation, oil and gas stocks.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index was down 2.73 points at 1,305.94.

BANGKOK

Thai share prices closed 1.97 percent higher as investors chased gains in energy-linked stocks in line with surging oil prices.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index jumped 16.08 points to 831.51 and the bluechip SET-50 index gained 14.35 points to 604.70.

MANILA

Philippine share prices closed 0.5 percent lower as investors took profits amid surging oil prices and the concerns about the state of the US economy.

The Philippine Stock Exchange composite index fell 18.65 points to 3,423.73 after moving between 3,402.98 and 3,442.38. The broader all-share index shed 12.86 points at 2,143.53.

MUMBAI

Indian share prices rose 1.32 percent to a third straight record close on sustained overseas fund buying in benchmark stocks.

Dealers said sentiment improved as India's inflation fell to a near five year low of 3.32 percent for the week ended Sept. 8.

The Mumbai stock exchange SENSEX index rose 216.28 points to 16,564.23, from a previous record close of 16,347.95.
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