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Asian markets rise further on economic hopes

AFP, Hong Kong
Asia's markets continued to advance Thursday as inves tors remained confident that the global economic downturn could be easing.
Tokyo rose 1.84 percent. 1 long Kong added 3.57 percent and Sydney more than one percent as the region remained on an uptick that has lasted throughout March.
Singapore gained almost four percent and Shanghai more than three percent, while Mumbai was 3 17 percent higher.
Markets have been boosted by hopes of an economic recovery and soared at the start of the week after Washington unveiled plans to buy up toxic debts from banks to spur lending. Earlier this week housing data showed sales edging up for the first time in months.
As a result of the positive news many Asian indexes are now recording highs not seen tor several weeks.
TOKYO: Up 1.84 percent. The Nikkei-225 index gained 156.34 points to 8.636.33, the highest close since January 9.
Shares tracked gains on Wall Street, where upbeat data fuelled hopes of an economic recovery.
The Nikkei has rallied about 22 percent from a 26-year closing low of 7,054.98 on March 10, but it is still down 2.5 percent this year.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial rose 1.5 percent to 540 yen. Japan's top bank said later than it would merge its Japanese securities firm with that ofWall Street giant Morgan Stanley and take a 60 percent stake in the joint venture.
Sony surged 6.7 percent to 2,215, helped by positive broker comment.
HONG KONG: Up 3.57 percent. The Hang Seng Index closed up 486.87 pointsat 14,108.98.
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China led sharp gains in Chinese banks, rising 14.8 percent to 4.11 Hong Kong dollars on its strong 2008 results and comments from Goldman Sachs that eased concerns about a stake sale.
China Construction Bank climbed 7.5 percent to 4.75 and Bank of
Communications jumped 9.6 percent to 5.83.
Hutchison Whampoa said Thursday net profit fell 42 percent in 2008 to 17.66 billion Hong Kong dollars (2.3 billion US), but the previous year's figures had been inflated by a one-off gain from the sale of an Indian phone network.
The company closed up 3.28 percent at 42.55.
UOB KayHian Securities director Steven Leung said the HSI's year-to-date high of 15,763 on January 7 remains a strong cap for the index in the near term.
SYDNEY: Up 1.03 percent The S&P/ASX 200 rose 37.3 points to 3,646.6.
It was the index's fourth consecutive session in the black.
CMC Markets head of trading James Foulsham said: "There’s nothing specific drawing the market higher, but there was another good day on the Dow (Jones)," Foulsham said. "I think there's just a bit of general confidence coming back into the market.
NAB closed up 3.04 percent at 20.99 Australian dollars and ANZ rose 60 cents to 16.80.
BHP Billiton was up 52
cents at 33.78 and Rio Tinto rose 77 cents to 54.70.
Telstra closed up four centsat3.17.
SHANGHAI: Up 3.06 percent. The Shanghai Composite rose 70.15 points to2,361.70.
Steel, metal and textile stocks helped the market as they regained ground after the government unveiled plans to increase export tax rebates.
The key index reached its highest level since February 16, when it rose to 2,389.39.
Companies in the textile and apparel, steel, nonferrous metal, petrochemical, information technology and light industry sectors also rose.
Baoshan Iron and Steel was up 2.3 percent at 5.75 yuan.
ICBC rose 5.8 percent to 3.99. China Life closed up 2.7 percent at 22.72.
TAIPEI: Up 0.75 percent. The weighted index rose 40.18 points to 5,386.56.
Financials rose 2.38 percent and electronics gained 0.78 percent, while steel shed2.17percent.
Powerchip ended up 6.9 percent at 4.02 Taiwan dollars.
Nanya Technology also soared 6.9 percent to 7.30
and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co fell one percent to 51.7.
Cathay Financial was up 1.5 percent to 30.05.
SEOUL: Up 1.2 percent. The KOSPI ended up 14.78 points at 1,243.8, the highest level in more than five months.
"Expectations are growing that the economy is nearing its bottom with more favourable signs coming from the US," said Kim Jung-Hyun, an analyst at Goodmorning Shin han Securities.
Samsung Electronics advanced 2.52 percent to 5 70,000 won. Hynix Semiconductor surged by the daily limit of 14.71 per-centto 11,700.
KB Financial Group jumped 4.26 percent to 36,700.
Hyundai Motor ended 1.7 percent higher at 53,700 after the government unveiled demand-boosting measures.
SINGAPORE: Up 3.97 percent. The STI gained 67.11 points to 1,758.79.
The market brushed aside news that Singapore's manufacturing output fell 22.4 percent in February from the previous year.
DBS gained 32 cents to
8.74 Singapore dollars and United Overseas Bank rose 22 cents to 10.54.
CapitaLand advanced 17 cents to 2.37.
Singapore Airlines gained 28 cents to 10.30 and Singapore Telecommunications closed six cents higher at 2.57.
KUALA LUMPUR: Up 0 80 percent The KLCI gained 6.66 points to 885.47.
Resorts World gained 6.80 percent to 2.19 ringgit while Genting rose 4.90 percent to 3.86.
BANGKOK: Up 0.57 percent. The SET rose 2.48 points to close at 439.40.
But dealers said concerns over political instability in Thailand dampened sentiment as thousands of anti-government protesters massed in Bangkok.
1 hailand's top energy firm PTT Plc rose 1.00 baht tocloseat 161.00.
Top coal producer Banpu also gained 2.00 to 222.00
The country's biggest lender Bangkok Bank was unchanged at 76.00.
MANILA: Up 2.51 percent. The composite index added 48.72 points to 1,988.26.
It was a three-month high for the index and the seventh straight day of gains.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone, which accounted for more than 19 percent of turnover, added 1.47 percent to 2,075 pesos while Energy Development Corp, gained 5.71 percent to 3.70.
WELLINGTON: Down 0.53 percent. The NZX-50 fell 14.07 points to2,616.25.
Investors were prepared to take a little more risk and some companies, whose stocks had previously been aggressively sold, were able to regain ground.
Market leader Telecom fell five cents to 2.29 New Zealand dollars and second ranked Contact Energy ended down 12 cents at 5.75.
Auckland International Airport lost two cents to 1.69.
MUMBAI: Up 3.47 percent. The 30-share Sensex index rose 335.2 points to 10,003.1.
The market crossed the 10,000-point mark for the first time since January 6. The bourse is up more than 20 percent in just over two weeks.