TOKYO
Japan's Nikkei index ended lower on Thursday for the first time in five days, hit by profit-taking and a stronger yen, which is bad for exporters.

The Nikkei-225 index slipped 26.21 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 7,945.96, a day after closing at a five-week high. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares climbed 0.10 points, or 0.01 per cent, to 764.77.

HONG KONG
Hong Kong share prices closed 0.10 per cent higher on Thursday, but profit-taking in banking giant HSBC limited any gains on the bourse, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 13.75 points at 13,130.92. Turnover was 48.59 billion Hong Kong dollars (S$9.45 billion.)

SHANGHAI
Chinese shares closed up 1.89 per cent on Thursday as strong results from the Bank of Communications and a rally by US stocks overnight boosted sentiment, dealers said.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B shares, closed up 42.03 points to 2,265.76 on turnover of 127.8 billion yuan (S$28.3 billion).

The Shanghai A-share index added 43.99 points, or 1.88 per cent, to 2,378.17 on turnover of 127.3 billion yuan, while the Shenzhen A-share index rose 15.94 points, or 2.05 per cent, to 792.05 on turnover of 63.7 billion yuan.

KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysian shares closed up 0.50 per cent on Thursday led by banking stocks, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 4.22 points to 852.18, with advancers outnumbering decliners 230 to 215.

'Gains were quite strong at the opening but selling emerged towards the later part of the day and chipped away part of the gains,' a dealer told Dow Jones Newswires.

'We started seeing selling this afternoon and this could continue tomorrow as investors unwind positions ahead of the weekend,' another dealer said, adding that banking stocks continued to lead gains.

Among advancers, Maybank rose 4.40 per cent to 4.26 ringgit and Bumi-Commerce gained 0.8 per cent to 6.30.

On the downside, Public Bank lost 2.00 per cent to 7.40 ringgit and Sime was down 0.90 per cent to 5.45.

Turnover was at 73.592 million shares valued at RM103.271 million. -- AFP, BERNAMA