KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysian share prices ended 0.17 per cent lower on Thursday as trading slowed amid political uncertainty ahead of a key by-election, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index fell 1.78 points to end at 1,071.43.

HONG KONG
Hong Kong shares closed 2.58 per cent down on Thursday after the Chinese government failed to confirm reports of new measures to shore up the economy, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 539.20 points to 20,392.06.

Turnover was 55.74 billion Hong Kong dollars (S$10 billion).

Hong Kong property giant Cheung Kong fell 2.79 per cent after it reported a 35-per cent drop in net profit for the first half of 2008.

Hang Lung Properties was off 3.21 per cent and Sino Land slid 4.50 per cent.

SHANGHAI
Chinese share prices closed down 3.63 per cent on Thursday led by power firms as investors locked in profits after sharp gains in previous sessions, dealers said.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was down 91.57 points at 2,431.72 on a turnover of 51.9 billion yuan (S$10.7 billion).

The Shanghai A-share index shed 96.11 points, or 3.63 per cent, to close at 2,552.64 on a turnover of 51.7 billion yuan, and the Shenzhen A-share index lost 25.10 points, or 3.36 per cent, to 722.48 on a turnover of 24.7 billion yuan.

TOKYO
Japanese share prices closed down 0.77 per cent on Thursday, failing to get a boost from a Wall Street rally as investors continued to fret about the outlook for the global economy, dealers said.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange?s benchmark Nikkei-225 index lost 99.48 points to end at 12,752.21.

The broader Topix index of all first-section shares shed 8.84 points or 0.72 per cent to 1,224.53. -- AFP, BERNAMA