HONG KONG, July 6: Asian stock markets closed generally mixed Tuesday, with prices falling in Tokyo and Hong Kong but surging in Seoul and Jakarta, reports AP.

The Japanese benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 84.33 points, or 0.47 per cent, to close the day's trading at 18,050.73. On Monday, the average rose 202.59 points, or 1.13 per cent, finishing at 18,135.06 — its highest closing level since September 1997.

Tokyo stocks fell on profittaking. The Nikkei average had gained 3.5 per cent in the three sessions prior to Tuesday.

'The market is adjusting its speed," said Hidenori Taraki, a general manager Tokyo-Mitsubishi Personal Securities.

The average had surged Monday after the Bank of Japan's quarterly "tankan" survey showed that business sentiment had improved in the past three months.

Prices on the Hong Kong" Stock Exchange also fell on profit-taking.

The Hang Sehg Index, the Hong Kong market's key indicator of blue chips, lost 134.13 points, or 0.9 per cent, to close at 14.372.61. On Monday, the index had gained 322.16 points.

or 2.3 per cent.

South Korea shares closed sharply higher for a second straight day. boosted by the rapid pace of the country's economic recovery.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 26.59 points, or 2.8 per cent, to 989.43, its highest level since Nov 6, 1995 when it reached 992.77.

Indonesian stocks also closed sharply higher as foreign and local bdrgain-hunters bought back shares whose prices were seen as cheap, shrugging off domestic political concerns that recently depressed sentiment.

The Jakarta Stock Exchange's Composite Index rose 2.4 per cent, or 16.443 points, to 681.587,

Elsewhere:

Singapore: Share prices closed mostly lower on profittaking. The Straits Times Index closed at 2.175.51, down 35.93 points, or 1.6 per cent.

Taipei: Share prices closed as investors took profits in technology shares amid concern that the market has been overbought. The market's key Weighted Stock Price Index fell 138.86 points, or 1.61 per cent, to 8.454.49.

Wellington: New Zealand

share prices closed higher, boosted by demand for local forestry stocks. The benchmark NZSE-40 Capital Index rose 19.90 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 2,160.70.

Manila: The Philippine stock index finished lower as investors cashed in on gains made in the past five sessions. The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 11.31 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 2.10.36.

Sydney: Australian share prices closed slightly higher, with solid gains in market heavyweight News Corp and the telecommunications sector offsetting losses in the banks. The AU Ordinaries Index closed at 3.081.9. up 3.8 points, or 0.1 per

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian stocks closed mostly higher, although the main index slipped because of a fall in the share price of Malaysia's largest telecommunications company. Telekom Malaysia Bhd. The Composite Index, which tracks 100 key stocks, closed at 846.28, down 0.78 points.

Bangkok: Thai share prices closed lower on profit-taking. The Stock Exchange of Thailand index fell 6.33 points, or 1.2 per cent, to 526.82.