TOKYO

JAPANESE shares ended marginally lower on Friday, falling for an eighth consecutive session as the strength of the yen fanned caution about the economic outlook, dealers said.

The benchmark Nikkei-225 index dropped 3.78 points, or 0.04 peR cent, to 9,287.28. The broader Topix index of all first section shares lost 1.41 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 872.50.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong share prices closed 0.46 per cent lower on Friday, as investors remained concerned about the state of the US economy, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended down 82.17 points at 17,708.42.

Turnover was 52.51 billion Hong Kong dollars (S$9.83 billion).

SHANGHAI

Chinese shares closed down 0.29 per cent on Friday as profit-taking in blue-chips outweighed enthusiasm over the strong listing debuts of two small firms, dealers said.

The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers A and B shares, was down 9.10 points to 3,113.93 on turnover of 178.2 billion yuan (S$38.1 billion).

The Shanghai A-share index fell 9.62 points, or 0.29 per cent, to close at 3,268.94 on turnover of 177.8 billion yuan, while the Shenzhen A-share index shed 5.49 points, or 0.50 per cent, to 1,095.91 on turnover of 97.1 billion yuan.

KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysian shares closed flat on Thursday on mild bargain-hunting in selected blue-chips, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 0.21 points, or 0.02 per cent, to close at 1,065.68. Gainers outpaced losers 350 to 201.

'Last minute buying interest in finance stocks by local government-led funds helped to lift the index into positive territory,' a dealer told Dow Jones Newswires.

Among gainers, leading bank Maybank added 0.90 per cent to 5.80 ringgit and Bumiputra-Commerce bank was up 0.60 per cent to 9.20. -- AFP, BERNAMA