HONG KONG, Dec 22: Asian stock markets were mostly lower on Monday as investors remained concerned about the global financial system amid further weak economic data out of Japan and warnings of a bleak 2009 ahead.

The grim outlook continued to sap sentiment despite a slew of economic stimulus packages and US President George W. Bush’s unveiling of a $13.4-billion- rescue for the ailing US auto industry.

Hong Kong shares lost 3.3 per cent, Sydney 1.6 per cent, Taipei 3.39 per cent, Singapore 2.78 per cent and Shanghai 1.52 per cent.

TOKYO: Japanese stocks gained 1.57 per cent.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark Nikkei index ended up 135.26 points at 8.723.78. The Topix index of all the Tokyo Stock Exchange first section issues rose 14.29 points or 1.71 per cent to 848.72.

Investors bought back a broad range of shares after the White House said Friday that it will give a multi-billion-dollar loan to the ailing US auto industry.

Exporters mostly rose as the surge of the yen tapered off just above 90 to the dollar.

Sony rose 1.59 per cent to 1,850 yen, while Honda Motor jumped 5.42 per cent to 1,905.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong share prices closed 3.3 per cent lower.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed down 505.12 points at 14,622.39 after trading. Turnover was light at 36.49 billion Hong Kong dollars (4.68 billion US).

SYDNEY: Australian share prices dropped 1.6 per cent.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 fell 58.3 points to 3,557.4 and the broader All Ordinaries lost 54.9 points, or 1.6 per cent, to close at 3,492.3.

Turnover was light in the lead-up to Christmas, with 868.67 million shares worth 2.16 billion Australian dollars (1.47 billion US) traded.

BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto were both lower, falling 0.9 per cent to $29.64 and 4.1 per cent to 37.40 respectively.

Westpac dropped 3.1 per cent to 16.78 and the Commonwealth Bank was off 2.7 per cent at 27.06.

SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed 2.78 per cent lower.

The blue-chip Straits Times Index closed down 49.84 points at 1,745.63 on volume of 736 million shares worth $690 million (476 million US).

CapitaLand and City Developments fell 42 cents each to close at 2.88 and 6.56 Singapore dollars respectively.

United Overseas Bank dropped 66 cents to 12.34 and Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp was down 14 cents to 4.93. DBS closed 48 cents lower at 9.37 after announcing it plans to raise about four billion dollars in a rights issue.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares closed 0.3 per cent lower.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index lost 2.97 points to close at 873.43.

Malaysian Airlines was down 6.8 per cent at 2.89 and Maybank shed 2.9 per cent to 5.10.IOI Corp gained 2.2 per cent to 3.64 ringgit and Resorts World rose 1.4 per cent at 2.24. Telekom Malaysia added one per cent at 3.02.

JAKARTA: Indonesian shares ended 0.2 per cent lower.

The Jakarta Composite Stock Index closed down 2.97 points at 1,345.31.

Telecommunication giant Telkom rose 3.7 per cent on bargain hunting.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares closed 0.92 per cent higher.

The benchmark NZX-50 index rose 24.45 points to 2,679.75.

Casino operator Sky City rose 10 cents to 2.96.

Air New Zealand was unchanged at 89 cents.

MUMBAI: Indian shares fell 1.7 per cent. The benchmark 30-share Sensex index fell 171.56 points to 9,928.35.—AFP