HONG KONG. Oct 9: Asian stock markets closed generally lower Monday, with share prices falling In Tokyo after four straight days of gains, reports AP.

Tokyo's 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 330.01 points, or 1.78 per cent, closing at 18,176.27 points. Before Monday's decline, the index had gained a total of 766.44 points, including a 285.87 point rise on Friday, over the previous four trading days.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all issues listed on the first section fell 15.27 points, or 1.04 per cent, to 1.453.04. The TOPIX rose 11.98 points, or 0.82 per cent on Friday.

In Hong Kong, share prices closed generally lower for the third straight day.

The Hang Seng Index, the Hong Kong market's key Indicator of blue chips fell, 10.46 points, or 0.1 per cent, closing at 9.863.44. On Friday, the index slipped 14

points.

MANILA: Share prices closed lower on profit-taking after two straight sessions of gains. The Philippines' unified composite index of 41 selected issues fell 29.73 points to 2.611.04.

SEOUL: Share prices closed higher despite some profit-taking late in the session. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 4.89 points to 1.008.29.

SINGAPORE: Share prices closed lower In lackluster trading. The 30-share Straits Times Industrials Index eased 3.41 points to 2,138.59.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian share prices closed broadly lower in quiet trading as many investors remained on the sidelines. The KLSE Composites Index fell 7.31 points to 976.50.

BANGKOK: Thai share prices closed lower on profittaking. The Stock Exchange of Thailand index fell 6.10 points to 1.321.34.