TOKYO

JAPANESE share prices closed up 0.43 per cent on Wednesday, lifted by bargain-hunting after the previous day's heavy losses, dealers said.

The benchmark Nikkei-225 index gained 40.71 points to 9,590.32, after falling 2.82 per cent on Tuesday. The broader Topix index of all first section shares climbed 0.77 points, or 0.09 per cent, to 902.46.

KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIAN shares closed up 1.28 per cent on Wednesday driven by strong gains in property and construction stocks and selected blue-chips, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 13.37 points to 1,057.85.

Advancers outpaced losers 594 to 120.

HONG KONG

HONG Kong share prices closed 2.02 per cent higher on Wednesday, as investors grabbed bargains after a heavy fall in the previous session, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 353.78 points at 17,892.15.

Turnover was low at H$56.71 billion (S$10.63 billion).

SHANGHAI

CHINESE shares closed up 1.02 per cent on Wednesday as institutional investors chased blue-chip steel makers, dealers said.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B shares, was up 29.60 points to 2,922.30 on turnover of 146.6 billion yuan (S$31.2 billion).

The Shanghai A-share index gained 31.08 points, or 1.02 per cent, to close at 3,067.90 on turnover of 146.3 billion yuan, while the Shenzhen A-share index rose 18.19 points, or 1.85 per cent, to 1,002.16 on turnover of 70.8 billion yuan.