Asian markets end broadly higher Tuesday

Asian markets ended broadly higher Tuesday as positive investor sentiment spurred on bargain hunting in most markets, dealers said.

TOKYO	Nikkei-225	17,292.91	-40.40
SHANGHAI	Composite	1,329.80	+10.33
HONG KONG	Hang Seng	16,100.09	+36.34
SEOUL	Composite	1,385.64	+5.89
TAIPEI	Weighted	6,665.60	+4.84
SYDNEY	All Ordinaries	5,116.30	-16.80
KUALA LUMPUR	KLSE	931.17	+2.94
SINGAPORE	STI	2,532.59	-16.09
JAKARTA	Composite	1,326.448	-2.865
BANGKOK	SET	745.33	+6.66
MANILA	Composite	2,194.20	+4.43

Japan
Tokyo stocks closed 0.23% lower Tuesday, as investors favoured profit taking following the market's recent gains, brokers said. The Nikkei-225 index shed 40.40 points to close at 17,292.91.

China
Chinese stocks edged up 0.78% Tuesday on continued buying support for bluechips, brokers said. The Shanghai Composite Index increased 10.33 points to close at 1,329.80.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong stocks advanced 0.23% Tuesday, with investors continuing to buy selected bluechips, brokers said. The Hang Seng Index added 36.34 points to finish at 16,100.09.

South Korea
South Korean stocks closed 0.42% higher Tuesday, as foreign investors scooped up tech shares, brokers said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 5.89 points to 1,385.64, extending its winning streak to a ninth session.

Taiwan
Share prices on the Taiwan Stock Exchange ended flat Tuesday, as profit-taking in selected blue-chips capped early gains, dealers said. The weighted index, the market's key barometer, rose 4.84 points to close at 6,665.6.

Australia
The Australian stock market closed 0.35% weaker by the end of the day as an early strong lead built up by the major miners was diminished by profit-taking. At the 1615 AEST close the benchmark S&P/ASX200 was down 18 points to 5162.5 points after reaching an intraday high of 5217.5 points. The all ordinaries had lost 16.8 points to 5116.3 points by the finish.

Malaysia
The Malaysian stock market closed 0.32% stronger Tuesday, pushed up by bargain-hunting in mining and consumer product stocks, dealers said. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index rose 2.94 points to 931.17.

Singapore
Singapore stocks ended 0.63% weaker Tuesday as investors locked in profits following recent gains, dealers said. The Straits Times Index dropped 16.09 points to 2,532.59.

Indonesia
The Jakarta stock market closed 0.22% lower Tuesday as investors took profits in Telkom shares, dealers said. The composite price index lost 2.865 points to 1,326.448.

Thailand
Thai stock prices ended 0.90% stronger Tuesday amid speculation the Prime Minister might heed pressure to resign, dealers said. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index added 6.66 points at 745.33, while the bluechip SET 50 index climbed 5.93 points to 518.57.

Philippines
Philippine shares gained 0.20% Tuesday, thanks to investor bargain-hunting in blue chip Philippine Long Distance Telephone, brokers said. The composite index rose 4.43 points to end at 2,194.20.

(Asia Pulse)