HONG KONG. July 6: Asian stock markets closed generally mixed Thursday, with share prices surging in Tokyo for tlie third straight day, reports AP.

Tokyo’s 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 426.45 points, or 2.88 per cent, closing at 15,256.89. The Nikkei average now has gained a total of 771.48 points in three days.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all issues listed on the first section gained 2.3.77 points, or 1.96 per cent, and closed at 1.236.79. It had climbed 4.44 points, or 0.37 per cent, on Wednesday.

Traders said the key index surged on buying of hanking, construction and some high-technology stocks in the afternoon.

Japan's central bank governor Yasuo Matsushita said that although the country's economic recovery is stag nating, there was some underlying strength in the economy and that high-technology industries are increasing capital investhient

Meanwhile, the US dollar was quoted at 85.24 yen. up 0.34 yen from late Wednesday and alxive its level of 84.80 y en in late New York trading oveniiglit.

In Hong Kong, share prices dosed kiwer on profit-taking.

The Hang Seng Index, the Hong Kong market's key indicator of blue chips, fell 30.40 points, or 0.3 per cent, closing at 9.376.87. On Wednesday, tlic iiulcx had surged 224 points.

Brokers sakl investors took profits after Wednesday's surge in the index, which was triggered by optimism tliat there would be a cut in US interest rates,

WELUNGTON: New Zealand share prices closed little changed in quiet trading, with brokers expecting the market to drift around current levels. The NZSE-40 Capital Index rose 1.32 points to 2,064.66.

T.UPEI: Share prices closed lower after profit-taking eroded early gains. The market's weighted Price

Index fell 4.14 points to 5.478.18.

MANILA: Share prices closed higiier for the eighlli straight session, buoyed by the overnight record rally on Wall Street. The Philippines' unified composite index of 43 selected issues rose 15.41 points to 2,834.27.

SYDNEY: The Australian market closed flat to lower in lackluster trading, with brokers saying there was a lack of overseas buying interest in local shares. The All Ordinaries Index fell 1.1 points to 2,021.2.

SEOUL Share prices closed higher in brisk trading. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 9.97 points to 914.95.

KUALA IUMPI "R: Malaysian share prices closed mixed, with trading centered largely on speculative shares. The KLSE Composite Index fell 2.47 points to 1.045-35.

SINGAPORE: Share prices closed liigher in relatively active trading. The benchmark Straits Times Industrials Index rose 5.40 points to 2.133.65.

BANGKOK: Thai share prices closed lower in brisk trading as in-I vestors took profits. The Stock Exchange of Thailand Index fell 2.89 I points to 1,427.57.

JAKARTA: The stock exchange's Composite Index rose 0.894 points, closing at 499.480.