HONG KONG. Apr 3: Aslan stock markets closed generally mixed Monday, with Hong Kong's key index plunging and Tokyo's rising sharply, reports AP.

In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index fell 513.61 points, or 3 per cent, to close at 16.892.93. On Friday, the index had slipped 60.61 points, or 0.4 per cent.

Brokers said investors were concerned about a further correction on Wall Street and a possible slump in the Nasdaq market after US software giant Microsoft failed to settle an antitrust lawsuit with US government lawyers.

"People are jittery abou/ the Nasdaq market in the coming two sessions and are reluctant to open new positions," said Andrew Chak. senior investment analyst at Dao Heng Securities.

The Japanese benchmark 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 389.67 points, or 1.92 per cent, to close at 20,726.99. its highest since Dec 10, 1996. when the Nikkei closed at 20.822.12. On Friday, the average closed down 104.18 points or 0.5 per cent.

Prices rose on buying by pension funds after the Bank of Japan’s quarterly "tankan" survey for March said sentiment among large manufacturers had brightened from the last survey in December.

News that Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi suffered a stroke and would be incapacitated for an undermined length of time had a limited impact on the stock market, traders said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki, serving as acting prime minister, told a news conference after the market closed that Obuchi was in a coma and on an artificial respirator.

In currency trading, the US dollar was quoted at 104.86 yen. down 0.42 yen from its level of 105.28 yen on Friday but higher than its late New York level of 102.64 yen. also on Friday.

Share prices in Singapore

also closed sharply lower, pushed down by falling telecommunication and technology stocks. The Straits Times Index fell 60.91 points, or 2.9 per cent, to 2.071.68.

The market in Taiwan was closed for a holiday.

Other markets:

Wellington: New Zealand share prices closed sharply higher, boosted by gains in Fletcher Challenge Ltd following the possible spinoff of the group's paper division. The benchmark NZSE-40 Capital Index rose 43.05 points, or 2.1 per cent, to 2,097.10. its largest rise since Feb 16.

Jakarta: Indonesian shares closed lower as foreign investors sold stocks amid growing concerns over the International Monetary Fund's delay of a US $400 million loan to Indonesia. The Composite Index fell 12.375 points, or 2.1 per cent, to 570.901.

Manila: Philippines stocks ended mixed as bargain hunters pushed blue chips higher but many other shares declined on negative sentiment toward the market. The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index rose 6.60 points, or 0.4 per cent, to 1.688.32. ’

Sydney: Australia's revamped stock market index finished higher as investors snapped up resources, banks and media stocks. The Ail Ordinaries index, which has doubled in size to 500 stocks, rose 49.9 points, or 1.5 per cent, to 3.183.2.

Seoul: Share prices closed lower on local Institutional selling. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 14.50 points, or 1.7 per cent, to 846.344.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian share prices closed mostly lower on profit-taking. The Composite Index fell 8.97 points, or 0.9 per cent, to 965.41.

Bangkok: Thal share prices ended little changed The Composite Index slipped 0.58 point to 399.74.