Asian stocks ended mixed Thursday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 index finishing little changed and other exchanges hemmed in for the most part.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index inched up 0.16 point -- neglible on a percentage basis -- to 17,292.48 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 55.36 points, or 0.3 percent, to 20,735.05.
Mobile phone company NTT DoCoMo Inc. surged 4.36 percent to 215,000 yen (US$1,776.86) and Honda Motor Co. jumped 1.73 percent to 4,710 yen (US$38.93).
Elsewhere:
JAKARTA: Indonesia shares dropped 0.8 percent to 1751.32, hurt by persistent fears that severe floods in capital could spur inflation in February, which could stop central bank cutting interest rates further.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares rose to a new year high, led by gains in banking stocks, construction plays and select heavyweights. The Kuala Lumpur Composite index added 0.4 percent to 1,248.83.
MANILA: Philippine shares slipped for a third day on profit-taking in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and property stocks after the market hit a 10-year intraday high earlier in the week. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index dropped 36.31 points, or 1.1 percent, at 3,196.08.
SEOUL: South Korean shares fell, led by losses in steelmaker Posco and Korea Electric Power. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 2.71 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,423.58.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks rose, buoyed by expectations of fresh fund inflows after the securities regulator said it had resumed approvals of new equity funds after a two-month suspension. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.8 percent to 2,737.73. The Shenzhen Composite Index surged 1.8 percent to 678.76.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares retreated on a pullback in property shares and fourth quarter results from Singapore Telecommunications that were slightly below market expectations. The benchmark Straits Times Index fell 18.8 points, or 0.6 percent, to 3217.8.
TAIPEI: Taiwanese shares fell slightly as early gains dissolved amid profit-taking in the cement and food sectors. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange dropped 7.84 points, or 0.1 percent, to 7,842.22.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks retreated after a sharp run-up in the previous session as home appliance maker Fisher & Paykel Appliances issued a profit warning. The benchmark NZX-50 index fell 26 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4,185.63.
SYDNEY: Australian shares stalled on a lack of offshore leads, as share price falls in the resources sector offset strong gains by property trusts. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index fell 0.3 points to close at 5,899.5.
With files from wire services
