Japanese share indexes ended flat Tuesday as gains in chip-related issues Advantest Corp. and Tokyo Electron Ltd. failed to offset selling among other blue chips ahead of a two-day meeting of the Bank of Japan's policy board.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index fell 7.46 points, or 0.04 percent, to finish at 17,202.46 points while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 40.61 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 20,027.95.
Investors were reluctant to place big bets ahead of the Bank of Japan's two-day policy meeting that starts Wednesday. Speculation is rife that the central bank may raise interest rates for the first time since last summer.
Losers included Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc., which declined 0.79 percent to 1.26 million yen (US$105,000), Mazda Motor Corp., which posted a 0.98 percent fall to 806 yen (US$6.72) and Nissin Food Products Co., which shed 0.23 percent to 4,310 yen (US$35.92).
Among telecoms, KDDI Corp. fell 1.34 percent to 808,000 yen (US$673.33).
Elsewhere:
MANILA: Philippines shares climbed to their highest in nearly 10 years Tuesday on heavy volume with foreign-led buying amid expectations of strong 2006 corporate earnings and positive economic outlook for this year. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 1.7 percent, or 51.23 points, to 3,070.29, the highest since April 3, 1997.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's shares rose, boosted by buoyant sentiment for property and other blue chips. The benchmark index closed up 26.5 points, or 0.88 percent, at 3,035.58.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares rose for a third consecutive session Tuesday in lackluster trading. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange gained 8.58 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7792.08.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX-50 index fell 0.5%.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 ended little changed at 5,673.40.
With files from wire services
