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Asian market highlights

BANGKOK: Thai stocks moved in negative territory all day but ended only slightly lower after local mutual funds entered the market just before the close and bought blue chip stocks, brokers said.

The SET index closed at its high for the day, 0.16 points down, or 0.01 percent, at 1,333.34 on 3.2 billion baht turnover. Decliners led gainers 171 to 112 while 129 issues were unchanged.

"Local mutual funds and retail investors entered the market late and bought stocks in five key sectors including finance, banks, building, property and communication," said Thanadech Mahapokai of Siam City Finance.

KUALA LUMPUR: Share prices closed lower in slow trading, marred by lack of fresh leads and the closure of regional markets for the Easter holidays, dealers said.

"Trading was slow throughout and price changes were generally small at the end of the day," said one dealer.

The key Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Composite Index ended down 3.00 points, or 0.26 percent, at 1,153.09.

SHANGHAI: Shanghai's B share index ended slightly up in slow trade, with domestic institutions supporting the market late in the session, brokers said.

The B index edged up 0.037 point, or 0.07 percent, to 50.007 points on volume of 1.0 million shares worth $394,000, the second lowest trading volume this year. Of 36 B shares, only 16 traded, with five up, four flat and seven down.

"Market movements were very slow, with major overseas investors taking an Easter holiday starting today," said one broker.

SHENZHEN: Shenzhen's A share index advanced on institutional demand for counters expected to report solid 1995 earnings, brokers said.

The A share index rose 2.84 points to 118.91, with turnover expanding to 426 million yuan from 217 million yuan on Thursday.

The composite index firmed 2.76 points to 115.40.

There was no trading on the hard-currency B share market in line with the closure of the Hong Kong bourse for the Easter holiday. Trading will resume on Tuesday.

TAIPEI: Taiwan share prices soared to close at a nine-month high to reflect news that Morgan Stanley may include the island's index in its worldwide indices, brokers said.

The weighted index, in the biggest single-session rise since December of 1994, gained a whopping 3.89 percent or 201.44 points to end at 5,377.19. Turnover was a heavy T$77 billion.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said on Tuesday that Morgan Stanley may include Taiwan's stock index in its three indices on September 2 this year.

"This is not just a psychological boost, but a fundamental boost which is expected to give the market more liquidity from foreign investors," said Tank Hung of Yuan Ta Securities.-Reuter