HONG KONG. Feb 1: Share prices bounced back Wednesday in Tokyo in brisk trading, buoyed by renewed buying of issues related to post-earthquake rebuilding, while most other Asian stock markets were closed for the Chinese New Year holidays, reports AP
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 89.65 points, or 0.48 per cent, closing at 18,739.47. On Tuesday, the average shed 103.06 points, or 0.55 per cent, closing at 18.649 82
The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all issues listed on the first section was up 0.30 points, negligible in percentage terms, to 1.464.14 The TOPIX closed at 1.46384 on Tuesday, down 2 62 points, or 0.18 per cent.
Shunlchl Umeda, an analyst with Tokyo securities, said the recent heavy turnover showed that Individual investors now are back to the market In sub
stantial number after a nearly seven-month absence since June, when their main Interest was centered on multimedia -related issues.
Wednesdays gainers included construction and dredging issues, high-technology and electronics stocks and a segment of autos.
The dollar held firm in Tokyt? following its overnight rally in New York on US President" Clinton's revamped plan to salvage the troubled Mexican economy with a 47.8 billion dollar injection of US money and international aid
Markets were closed in Hong Kong. Taiwan. South Korea Singapore, and Malaysia for the lunar new year holidays
Elsewhere in Asia
WK LUNGTON: New Zealand share prices rose in light trad ing with brokers expecting the market to remain subdued in line with major overseas markets The NZSE 40 capital Index climbed 17 23 points to 1 957 05
MANILA: Share prices climbed a* real Investor*. not short term speculators, were active after (ears of a hike In US interest rate* abated The Philippine* PSE index of 43 wle< ted issues surged 56.77 point* lo 2 4 76 89
SYDNEY: Australian Share priCr* closed broadly mixed, with bank* surging on the Ink k ol recent positive reports by rating agencies while gold slocks continued their down ward slide The All Ordinaries Index added 2 5 ^xilnts lo 1 833 1
BANGKOK: Speculative buy ing drove block prices higher in moderate trading Wednes day The Slock Exchange of Thailand index rose 20 79 point* to 1.238.53
JAKARTA: The stock ex change * Composite Index up 0 815 points closing at 434 646