HONG KONG, June 25: Asian stocks were mixed on Wednesday as dealers awaited an important interest rate announcement from the United States, while others capitalised on recent falls in some markets.

Shanghai was the biggest gainer, rising more than 3.6 per cent as traders went bargain-hunting following recent falls, while Taipei rose 1.51 per cent.

However analysts said the rebounds may be limited as oil prices continue to rise.

Hong Kong saw shares rise slightly in half-day trading after the southern Chinese city was closed in the morning as a tropical storm struck late Tuesday.

Singapore and Seoul closed the trading day slightly up, while Tokyo continued to slide and Sydney finished just off as dealers awaited the Fed interest rate decision, which is expected early Thursday.

In other markets, Bangkok recorded a 1.92 per cent hike despite the government grappling with a no-confidence vote, while Mumbai and Manila both posted gains after five days of losses.

TOKYO: Share prices ended slightly lower as stocks hit a seven-week low in the morning after Wall Street skidded on news of a sharp drop in US consumer confidence.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei-225 index ended down 19.64 points or 0.14 per cent at 13,829.92.

The broader Topix index of all first-section shares dropped 3.11 points or 0.23 per cent to 1,346.08.

HONG KONG: Share prices closed up 0.8 per cent, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended up 179.14 points at 22,635.16, ending four days of decline in Hong Kong.

Mainland oil producer CNOOC extended gains, with crude oil prices remaining high. The stock advanced for a third day, gaining 3.4 per cent to 13.44 Hong Kong dollars.

SYDNEY: Shares dropped 1.0 per cent, dealers said.

The benchmark SP/ASX 200 shed 52.2 points to close at 5,237.8, while the All Ordinaries fell 56.2 points to 5,362.6.

Some 1.92 billion shares worth about 7.2 billion dollars (6.9 billion US) changed hands.

BHP Billiton fell 4.7 per cent to 43.72 dollars, while rival Rio Tinto lost 3.7 per cent to 136.50.

The four major banks bounced back after Tuesday’s falls.

SINGAPORE: Shares closed 0.83 per cent higher, dealers said.

The blue chip Straits Times Index closed 24.46 points higher at 2,986.62 on weak volume of 1.02 billion shares worth 1.37 billion Singapore dollars (1.00 billion US).

City Developments was one of the biggest blue-chip gainers, rising 3.4 per cent to 10.84 Singapore dollars.

DBS was up 32 cents to 19.06, UOB 40 cents higher at 18.98, and OCBC up 14 cents at 8.33.

Shipping firm Neptune Orient Lines gained three cents to 3.18, while property developer CapitaLand bucked the uptrend and fell three cents to 5.72.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed 0.8 per cent higher, dealers said, with the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index rising 8.83 points to 1,209.11.

Maybank added 1.4 per cent at 7.25 ringgit while Tenaga rose 1.9 per cent at 8.25. Resorts lost 2.1 per cent at 2.75 ringgit.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand share prices closed 0.51 per cent lower, dealers said.

The NZX-50 gross index fell 16.89 points to 3,281.29.

Market leader Telecom fell eight cents to 3.62 dollars, but an “oversold”Fletcher Building rose 23 cents to 6.65.

Contact Energy rose six cents to 8.45 dollars after rising 16 cents Tuesday on news that Britain’s BG Group had renewed its bid for Contact’s Australian majority owner Origin Energy.

MUMBAI: Indian shares rose 0.8 per cent Wednesday on bargain-hunting, dealers said.

The benchmark Mumbai 30-share Sensex index closed up 113.49 points or 0.8 per cent to 14,220.07, recovering from an intra-day and 13-month low of 13,731.54.

The markets opened weak but gained on fresh fund buying later. On Tuesday the central bank raised its repo rate at which commercial banks borrow funds from the central bank to 8.5 per cent from 8.0 per cent with immediate effect.—AFP