Asian markets ended mixed after volatile trading Thursday, a day after posting heavy losses, on worries about the health of a U.S. economy and media reports that President George Bush is weighing an economic stimulus package.
Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 2.1 percent to 13,783.5 points after shedding 7.5 percent of its value the preceding four sessions.
Hong Kong's blue chip Hang Seng Index rose 2.7 percent to 25,115.0, recovering from a 5.4 percent slide Wednesday.
Real estate and construction shares led Tokyo's gains. Mitsubishi Estate Co. added 7.0 percent, Sumitomo Realty & Development Co. rose 4.2 percent and Obayashi Corp. climbed 7.5 percent.
Shares of liquid crystal display panel maker Sharp added 4.5% on reports it signed a supply agreement with Syntax-Brillian Corp. to supply 700,000 LCD panels in 2008.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thailand's main stock index rose 2.3 percent to 791.25 as local investors anticipated the country's highest court will reject the dissolution of the pro-Thaksin People Power Party in a key election-related ruling tomorrow.
JAKARTA: Indonesia's main stock benchmark rose 2.2 percent to 2,649.3 after falling 8.4 percent in the previous three sessions.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Composite Index rose 0.5 percent to 1,460.7, recovering in tandem with the rebound in major regional markets.
MANILA: Philippine shares plunged to their worst close in five months, pummeled by Wall Street's extended retreat and a U.S. agency's downgrade of the Philippine aviation safety rating. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index lost 3.1 percent to close at 3,248.9 _ its lowest finish since Aug. 29.
MUMBAI: Indian shares dipped for the fourth straight session weighed down by continued selling in index heavyweights including Reliance Industries. The Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark Sensex index dropped 0.8 percent to 19,701 points. On the broader National Stock Exchange, the S&P Nifty index fell 0.4 percent to 5,913 points.
SEOUL: South Korean shares clawed back some lost ground after a five-session losing streak. Shares in the technology, automotive and banking sectors rose on bargain hunting. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, gained 1.1 percent to 1,723.6.
SHANGHAI: Banks and property developers led Chinese stocks lower Thursday after the central bank announced an increase in the reserves banks are required to hold. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index fell 2.6 percent to 5,151.6. The Shenzhen Composite Index fell 2.4 percent to 1,501.4.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares tracked regional bourses to rebound in a volatile trading session. The Straits Times Index ended 2.7 percent higher at 3,139.9.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's main stock index fell 1 percent to 8,101.6, with investors taking profit from gains the past three days on the Nationalist Party's win in the legislative elections.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX-50 index slipped 0.6 percent to 3,730.0.
SYDNEY: Australian stocks erased early gains on continued jitters about global markets. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.2 percent to 5,796.1.
with files from other wire services
