Business

Published: Friday October 9, 2009 MYT 1:24:00 PM

Asian markets up buoyed by sentiments

By Fintan Ng


KUALA LUMPUR: Markets in the Asia Pacific region were up at midday Friday as sentiments rose on better-than-expected corporate and economic data.

Underlying sentiments were further supported by Australia’s recent move to raise the country’s benchmark interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.25% and the slowing pace of declines in economic data globally.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI gained 0.28% to 1,233.52 while Singapore’s Straits Times Index was up a tenth of a percent to 2,654.24.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.31% to 9,961.75. Japan’s cabinet office said today that machinery orders gained 0.5% in August compared to July, when it fell 9.3%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.17% to 21,528.69 and Shanghai’s A share index soared 3.84% to 2,886.20.

The Taipei Index gained two-thirds of a percent to 7,552.64 and Seoul’s Kospi Index climbed 1.69% to 1,642.73.

At Bursa Malaysia, 261 counters were up, 275 were down while 244 others were traded unchanged. There were 372.78 million shares done at a total value of RM579.04 million.

CIMB soared 22 sen to RM12.30 and Hong Leong Bank rose 11 sen to RM6.73.

Batu Kawan climbed 13 sen to RM9.55 and Kulim gained 11 sen to RM7.50.

Genting Malaysia shed 4 sen to RM2.73, Genting rose 12 sen to RM7.32 while Tanjong dropped 16 sen to RM15.60.

Wynn-C1 call warrants surged 12 sen to 27 sen and Wynn-C2 call warrants added 10 sen to 25 sen on Wynn Macau’s strong debut at the Hong Kong stock exchange.

BAT fell 12 sen to RM44.88 and MISC lost 10 sen to RM9.

Crude palm oil for December delivery added RM29 to RM2,059 per tonne.

Nymex crude oil was 45 cents lower at US$71.73 per barrel.

The ringgit was quoted at 3.392 to the US dollar.

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