TOKYO
Japanese share prices closed down on Thursday on profit taking amid quiet trade, dealers said.

The benchmark Nikkei-225 index lost 72.71 points, or 0.75 per cent, to 9,668.96. The broader Topix index of all first section shares fell 3.51 points, or 0.38 per cent, to 910.99.

KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysian shares rose 0.81 per cent on Thursday due to bargain hunting on selected blue chips, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 8.57 points to end at 1,063.97.

Advancers outnumbered decliners 363 to 217.

A trader said market activity was lower than recent averages, at 1.3 billion shares, due to the traditional school holidays and a scarcity of large funds activity.

'Even though volume was not very large, there was a bit of bargain hunting today after yesterday's losses, with market speculation of possible corporate deals fuelling buying interest in some stocks,' a dealer told Dow Jones Newswires.

The bourse was expected to trade in 1,045-1,070 range Friday.

Advancers included Tenaga, which rose 3.3 percent to 7.80 ringgit, while Bumi-Commerce added 1.2 per cent to 8.65.

HONG KONG Hong Kong share prices closed 0.40 per cent lower on Thursday, as investors sold up following recent rallies, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index lost 73.70 points to end the day at 18,502.77. Turnover was 83.04 billion Hong Kong dollars (S$15.4 billion).

SHANGHAIChinese shares closed down 0.41 per cent on Thursday due to profit taking after four consecutive sessions of gains, dealers said.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B shares, was down 11.35 points to 2,767.24 on turnover of 179.5 billion yuan (S$37.9 billion).

The Shanghai A-share index fell 11.91 points, or 0.41 per cent, to 2,904.74 on turnover of 179.0 billion yuan, while the Shenzhen A-share index rose 0.37 points, or 0.04 per cent, to 967.71 on turnover of 83.3 billion yuan. -- AFP, BERNAMA