HONG KONG. Oct 9: Asian stock markets closed generally mixed Friday, with the key indexes soaring in Hong Kong and Seoul, but tumbling in Tokyo to a 13-year low. reports AP,

The strengthening of Japan's yen currency hurt snare prices in Tokyo, while helping them elsewhere. In late afternoon, i he US dollar was quoted at 117.20 yen. down 5.16 yen from late Thursday in Tokyo and also below its late New York level of 119.05 yen overnight.

In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 567.28 points, or 7.1 per cent, closing at 8.506.79.

Expectations of a short-term interest rate cut in Hong Kong led to the sharp rise in the market. .

TAIPEI: Share prices closed lower on profit-taking. The

market's key Weighted Stock Price Index fell 26.06 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 6,944.17

MANILA: Philippine shares closed higher for the fourth straight session in reaction to the gains posted by the yen against the dollar. The PSE Index rose 50.95 points, or 4.0 per cent, to 1,301.36.

KUALA LUMPUR: The key Composite Index slipped 0.77 point to 372.22.

SINGAPORE: Share prices closed higher as foreign fund buying in several component stocks bolstered key indexes, dealers said. The benchmark Straits Times Index rose 2.7 per cent, or 25.69 points, to 976.65.

BANGKOK: Thal share prices closed higher. The Stock Exchange of Thailand index rose 7.28 points, or 2.5 per cent, to 292.50.