Asian stocks ended mixed Tuesday, with Sony Corp. leading declines among Japanese export-related shares after the yen rose against the dollar in U.S. trading, reflecting a reduced appetite for risk.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index shed 113.55 points, or 0.66 percent, to finish at 17,178.84 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 109.28 points, or 0.6 percent, to finish at 19,333.14.
Investors sold export blue chips to lock in profits following recent gains as the yen strengthened against the dollar, which dents overseas earnings and makes Japanese exports more expensive.
Losers included Sony Corp., which plunged 2.08 percent to 6,110 yen (US$52.22) and Toyota Motor Corp., which sank 1.14 percent to 7,790 yen (US$66.58).
Meanwhile, Nikko Cordial Corp. shares jumped 6.13 to 1,490 yen (US$12.74) as the Tokyo Stock Exchange's decision Monday to keep the issue listed raised expectations that Citigroup Inc. will make a better takeover offer to shareholders of Japan's No. 3 brokerage. After the market closed, Citigroup raised its offer price 26 percent.
Elsewhere:
JAKARTA: Indonesia shares advanced with late buying in resources and mining blue chips erasing earlier losses. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite Index added 2.88 points, or 0.16 percent, to close at 1,797.40.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares fell 0.3 percent after profit-taking erased earlier gains. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index shed 3.28 points to settle at 1,200.01 points.
MANILA: Philippine's shares jumped for the third straight session as investors were heartened by gains on Wall Street. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 57 points, or 1.8 percent, at 3,181.96.
SEOUL: South Korean shares fell, led by losses in bank stocks. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, fell 5.28 points, or 0.4 percent, to 1,436.05.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks rose for a sixth straight day, as gains for airlines and other transport companies helped by lower crude oil prices offset profit-taking in heavyweight banks. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index added 0.3 percent to 2,964.79. The Shenzhen Composite Index jumped 1.1 percent to 778.20.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's shares dropped, breaking five straight sessions of gains, with losses were seen across various sectors due to profit-taking. The benchmark Straits Times Index fell 23.78 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 3,158.90.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares rose slightly. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange gained 54.85 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 7,684.00.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks edged higher, although brokers said investors are likely to remain selective about their stock picks in coming sessions. The benchmark NZX-50 index rose 17 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,105.72.
SYDNEY: Australian shares slid as investors became wary about upcoming United States inflation and retail sales data that could affect the local market. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 26 points, or 0.4 percent, at 5,865.
With files from wire services
