Records continued to tumble across Asian stock markets on Thursday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 index extending its rally for the sixth straight session and hitting a seven-year closing high, led by exporters such as Canon Inc. and Toshiba Corp. and financial shares such as Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group.
In Tokyo, Nikkei 225 index advanced for a sixth day, adding 28.62 points, or 0.16 percent, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to 18,240.30 while in Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index gained 270 points, or 1.3 percent, to 21,954.67.
Steel makers and trading companies led the advance following the release of trade balance data, which showed that strong exports helped widen May's trade surplus.
Gainers included steel maker JFE Holdings Inc., which rose 1.06 percent to 7,620 yen ($61.45), and trading house Mitsubishi Corp. gained 4.62 percent to 3,400 yen ($27.42).
ELSEWHERE:
BANGKOK: Thailand's shares slipped on profit-taking. The Stock Exchange of Thailand's SET index fell 13.32 points, or 0.1 percent, to 776.20.
JAKARTA: Indonesia's shares fell as investors locked in profits from recent gains. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite Index dropped 8.73 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,152.34.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares inched up as traders expect the index retest the record intraday high of 1,391.41 points. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index of 100 blue chips ended 1.69 points, or 0.12 percent, higher at 1,387.96 in heavy volume.
MANILA: Philippine shares slid, taking their cue from Wall Street, with gains in blue chips trimming early losses. The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 4.29 points, or 0.1 percent, at 3,714.59, after hitting a record close of 3,718.88 Wednesday.
SEOUL: South Korean shares gained modestly as heavyweight chipmakers rose on a rebound in DRAM chip prices. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, ended up 10.45 points, or 0.6 percent, at 1,794.24.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks rose as heavyweight insurers surged on speculation a possible interest rate could boost their earnings. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.2 percent to 4,230.82. The Shenzhen Composite Index inched up 0.1 percent to 1,245.19.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed at a record high as merger and acquisition activity helped to offset the negative lead from Wall Street. The Straits Times Index gained 10.82 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 3639.49.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares rose for their fourth consecutive session to a new seven-year high. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange rose 96.11 points, or 1.1 percent, to close at 8,851.99 in heavy volume.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares ended lower as weakness in Australia and on Wall Street overnight prompted some investors to cash in on recent gains. The benchmark NZX-50 index closed down 22.6 points, or 0.5 percent, at 4,300.57.
SYDNEY: The Australian share market outperformed Wall Street for the third day running, cushioned by BHP Billiton which closed at a record high and resilient share markets across the region. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed down 9.9 points, or 0.2 percent, at 6,387 points.
With files from wire services
