HONG KONG (AP) — Tokyo shares rebounded Thursday after technology and banking blue chips got a boost from gains on Wall Street, but other Asian markets closed mixed.
Japan’s Nikkei Stock Average of 225 issues surged 251.10 points, or 2.6 percent, finishing at 9,865.70. On Wednesday, the index had plunged 282.45 points, or 2.9 percent, to 9,614.60.
In New York Wednesday, the U.S. markets snapped a four-day losing streak and rose on a stronger-than-expected housing construction report.
The Dow Jones industrial average edged up 0.7 percent to 9,690.46, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index gained 1.0 percent to 1,899.65.
Cheered by Wall Street’s gains, investors in Japan snapped up high-tech heavyweights Advantest, Tokyo Electron, NEC and Canon, as well as banking shares including Mizuho, Mitsubishi Tokyo and UFJ.
In currency dealings, the U.S. dollar slightly strengthened against the Japanese yen. The dollar bought 108.94 yen late Thursday in Tokyo, up 0.86 yen from late Wednesday but below the 109.34 yen it bought in New York late Wednesday.
The lower yen helped exporters, including the automakers Honda Motor, Nissan and Toyota.
Hong Kong shares closed slightly lower in lackluster trade as investors stayed on the sidelines trying to gauge whether a recent rally had run its course.
The Hang Seng Index fell 27.58 points, or 0.2 percent, to 11,845.41. On Wednesday, the index had plunged 152.47 points, or 1.3 percent.
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thai shares closed mixed on losses in blue chips. The Stock Exchange of Thailand Index shed 4.80 points, or 0.8 percent, to 614.23.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares rose on a rebound in telecom blue chips. The Composite Index added 3.867 points, or 0.6 percent, to 605.805.
MANILA: Philippine shares advanced in step with Wall Street’s rise. The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index finished up 14.03 points, or 1.1 percent, at 1,332.34.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares ended higher on bargain hunting following recent sharp losses. The Weighted Composite Index of 100 blue chips gained 11.26 points, or 1.5 percent, to 777.21.
SEOUL: South Korean prices slipped as key blue chip Samsung Electronics declined on foreign selling. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, lost 2.25 points, or 0.3 percent, to 769.45.
SINGAPORE: Shares sank on heavy selling by hedge funds. The Straits Times index fell 14.92 points, or 0.9 percent, to 1,662.43 — its lowest since Oct. 2.
SYDNEY: Australian shares edged up marginally on buying in blue chips. The All Ordinaries index gained 3.60 points, or 0.1 percent, to 3,192.70.
TAIPEI: Taiwan’s market was pulled lower by big technology stocks. The Weighted Price Index shed 31.27 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 5,834.24.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares climbed slightly in quiet trade. The NZSX-50 added 2.13 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,341.99.
