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HONG KONG, Oct 30: Asian stocks closed mixed on Monday after weaker than expected United States growth figures ended Wall Street's record run, triggering falls in the Dow Jones.
Data released last Friday showed that US gross domestic product growth slowed to 1.6 per cent in the third quarter, from 2.6 per cent in the previous quarter, and 5.6 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
On the day, Tokyo responded with 1.90 per cent fall, Singapore was down 1.41 per cent, Taipei dropped 1.29 per cent, Seoul fell 0.95 per cent and Bangkok eased 0.97 per cent as the Thai baht strengthened to a seven-year high.
TOKYO: Share prices closed down 1.90 per cent, tracking Wall Street lower after weaker-than-expected third-quarter US economic growth figures unsettled investors.
Dealers said local participants were also cautious ahead of local company results and a Bank of Japan policy board meeting and economic outlook report due on Tuesday.
The Nikkei-225 index dropped 317.22 points to 16,351.85. Volume rose slightly to 1.86 billion shares from 1.79 billion on Friday.
Nakai said there was no need to be pessimistic about the falls and it was likely the market would go through a period of adjustment this week and next.
Kenichi Hirano, senior strategist at Tachibana Securities, said even generally strong local results had provided only limited support.
SYDNEY: Share prices rose 0.76 per cent to close at fresh record highs as investors bought mining stocks following a rise in base and precious metal prices.
The SP/ASX 200 rose 40.9 points to 5,399.4, beating last Thursday's record close of 5,389.7 and bucking a regional downturn.
Australian investors ignored falls in indexes in Asia and the United States amid a flurry of mergers and acquisition (MA) activity led by the Rinker bid, potentially the biggest acquisition in Australian history.
Rinker shares soared 3.89 or 26.46 per cent to end at 18.59 after earlier trading to a high of 18.90 after the firm dismissed Cemex's acquisition offer as being too low.
Share prices were led up by gains in resources, offsetting an exit by investors from the banking sector, said Bell Potter private client advisor Stuart Smith.
SINGAPORE: Share prices closed 1.41 per cent lower on profit-taking after last week's record-breaking run.
Dealers said losses in US stocks last week due to weaker-than-expected US economic data also hurt sentiment.
The Straits Times Index (STI) fell 38.38 points to 2,708.47 on volume of 1.19 billion shares worth 1.01 billion Singapore dollars (647 million US).
Valuations have become too high with the benchmark STI hitting all time high of 2,754.33 points on Friday.
United Overseas Bank was down 0.40 at 17.80.
KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed lower on profit-taking after gains over the last two sessions, with plantation stocks leading the way.
Dealers said weaker-than-expected US economic data gave investors an excuse to lock in gains.
The composite index closed down 3.83 points at 986.07 on turnover of 1.04 billion shares worth 843.39 million ringgit ($241 million).
JAKARTA: Share prices closed 0.47 per cent higher after a week-long holiday break, with gains in mining stocks and selected banks lifting the index to a new record high.
Aneka Tambang rose 850 rupiah to 7,000 after reporting that its consolidated third-quarter sales rose 44 per cent year-on-year.
WELLINGTON: Share prices closed 0.94 per cent higher, propelled upwards by strong gains in Telecom and Fletcher Building.
The NZSX-50 index added 35.13 points to 3,754.83 on turnover worth 133.0 million dollars (88.1 million US). Rises outnumbered falls 72 to 35.
Market leader Telecom rose 10 cents to 4.61 dollars, although there was no news specific to the company.
The action in the building sector in Australia provided a boost in sentiment for Fletcher Building, which is considered a prime takeover target, Lewthwaite said.
MUMBAI: Share prices closed up 0.91 per cent after the benchmark broke through the key 13,000 point level on fund buying as companies continued to show strong earnings growth.
The Mumbai stock exchange 30-share Sensex gained 117.45 points to an all time best finish of 13,024.26.—AFP
