TOKYO
Japanese share prices closed down 0.19 per cent on Wednesday as investors locked in profits a day after the market ended at a two-week high, dealers said.

The benchmark Nikkei-225 index lost 18.51 points to 9,939.93, having fallen back from the day's high above the key 10,000 level.

The broader Topix index of all first section shares slipped 1.46 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 928.30.

KUALA LUMPUR
Malaysian shares closed up 0.39 per cent on Wednesday on buying-interest by government-linked funds, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 4.16 points to close at 1,079.40.

HONG KONG
Hong Kong financial markets are closed on Wednesday for a public holiday. Trading will resume on Thursday, July 2.

SHANGHAI
Chinese stocks rose 1.65 per cent on Wednesday to close above 3,000 points for the first time in 13 months, with property and financial shares strong after manufacturing surveys showed a steady recovery in June.

The Shanghai Composite Index ended at 3,008.150 points.

Gaining Shanghai A shares outnumbered losers by 648 to 259, while turnover in Shanghai A shares rose to 153.2 billion yuan (S$32.5 billion) from Tuesday's 143.2 billion yuan. -- AFP, BERNAMA