World Markets resembled Wednesday's trading on Wall Street in Thursday's trading as some mixed data and trader trepidation had markets fluctuating some with most closing in close proximity to the zero level for gains or losses.
Stocks in Japan had a bit of a mixed day on Thursday as resource stocks were weak, but data on retail sales showed a 1.2% increase for September. The Bank of Japan also weighed in with a statement saying that asset purchased expansion is not out of the question if it feels the economy needs a further boost.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed down 21.00 points, or .22%, to 9,366.03.
Gainers -- Fanuc Ltd led gainers in the Nikkei with a gain of 5.52% to 11,850 yen.
Shares of Central Japan Rail rose 3.84% while Canon, Inc also saw and share price increase of3.73% to 3,755 yen.
Rounding out other winners in Tokyo were NGK Insulators; up 3.49% and Fujitsu Ltd with gains equaling 3.32%.
Decliners -- Taiheiyo Cement led declining stocks with a fall of 4.26%. Not far behind was Asahi Glass with loses of 4.26%.
Others that slipped included Nippon Soda; down 3.75% and Comsys Holdings with a loss of 3.43% to 731 yen. Shares of Toyota Motor Corp dropped 1.00% to 2,881 yen.
In China, stocks were mixed to close basically flat as lenders advanced good earnings reports by Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. and Bank of China Ltd., consumer discretionary stocks dropped on speculation that recent gains were unjustly exaggerated.
The Shanghai Composite closed down 4.47 points, or .15%, to 2,992.58.
China’s largest lender to farmers, Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. saw its shares rise 1.5% to 2.80 yuan after reporting that third-quarter profit rose 30% as compared to the year earlier quarter.
Battery and tungsten product manufacturer, Xiamen Tungsten Co. reported third quarter profits were nearly seven times higher than the quarter the previous year. Investors responded as the stock price climbed 10% to 55.70 yuan.
Ping An Insurance Co. did not fare as well after reporting third quarter earnings which declared a 26% decrease in profits as compared to the previous year. Shares dropped .8% to 60.81 yuan.
The Hang Seng rose; climbing 46.28 points to close at 23,210.86.
Elsewhere, the smaller markets were mixed on Thursday.
South Korea's Kospi dropped 1.67% to 1,907.87.
Australia's S&P/ASX 200 closed up by .792% to 4,684.900.
India's Sensex lost .32%.
Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Composite Index rose .33 points to 1,499.44.
Indonesia's Jakarta Composite Index increased by 14.36 points.
Shenzhen Composite closed green; up .286% to 1,353.098.
Taiwan's Taiex climbed 63.01 points.
Singapore's Straits Times Index closed up by .16%.
New Zealand's NZX 50 rose by .29%.
Philippine shares were down by .569%.
Shares in Thailand closed up by .332%.
