VARIOUS: Asian shares fall as investors book profits following sharp rises, except for Tokyo which jumps sharply on its first day of trade in 2013

Record ID: 480600

  • Title: VARIOUS: Asian shares fall as investors book profits following sharp rises, except for Tokyo which jumps sharply on its first day of trade in 2013
  • Date: 4th January 2013
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JANUARY 4, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE (TSE) SIGN READING IN ENGLISH 'TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE' MAIN OF HALL OF TSE TICKER ABOVE MAIN HALL OF TSE PEOPLE WATCHING STOCK BOARD IN TSE STOCK PRICES RISING ON BOARD MAN WATCHING BOARD MORE OF PEOPLE WATCHING BOARD FINAL PRICE OF NIKKEI 225 INDEX ON BOARD SHOWING 10688.11, UP 292.93 TSE EMPLOYEES WO
  • Embargoed: 19th January 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Australia, Taiwan, Province of China, Japan, Korea, Republic of
  • City:
  • Country: Taiwan
  • Topics: Economy
  • Reuters ID: LVA2HQIJKGODOD3P851KSHG8A1RF
  • Story Text: Asian shares fell on Friday (January 4) as investors booked profits following sharp rises, except for Tokyo which hit a 22 month high.
    The Nikkei share average climbed steeply on the first trading day of 2013, as a deal in Washington to avert the 'fiscal cliff' and a weaker yen buoyed investor risk appetite.
    The Nikkei ended up 2.8 percent at 10,688.11, its highest close since March 4, 2011.
    It was also the Nikkei's biggest daily percentage gain since March 22, 2011.
    The broader Topix gained 3.3 percent to 888.51.
    South Korean shares ended the day lower as the country's export champions in electronics, cars and shipbuilding came under selling pressure from a cheaper yen.
    The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed down 0.4 percent at 2,011.94 points, falling for the second straight day but still holding on to nine month highs.
    Taiwan stocks ended down 0.39 percent on Friday, dragged by tech heavyweights Mediatek and HTC, as well as banking shares.
    The main TAIEX index fell 30.85 points to 7,805.99, after opening down 0.24 percent.
    Mediatek and HTC shed 6.29 percent and 2.38 percent, respectively. Banking shares were down 0.92 percent.
    The Taiwan dollar was up 0.090 to stand at 29.001 Taiwan dollars.
    Australian shares eased 0.4 percent on Friday, with miners consolidating recent gains and investors taking a breather on the Fed minutes.
    Statistics showed iron ore shipments to China from Australia's Port Hedland surged 25 percent in December from the previous month and total iron ore shipments in December jumped 20 percent to almost 26 million tonnes, the highest reading on record.
    Iron ore prices have been in a steep ascent over the last three months and climbed to a 15-month high of 149.80 U.S. dollars a tonne on Thursday (January 3), thanks to demand from China.
    Lakos said miners would continue to be supported by China's expanding demand for iron ore.
    The S&P/ASX 200 index was down 16.9 points at 4,723.8, according to the latest data. It rose 0.7 percent to 4,740.7 on Thursday, its highest since May 19, 2011.
    Australian shares eased 0.4 percent on Friday, with miners consolidating recent gains and investors relaxing after some senior U.S. Federal Reserve officials expressed concerns about continuing to expand stimulative monetary policy.
    Top miners lost ground after hitting their highest since last February on Thursday. BHP Billiton Ltd dropped 0.6 percent, while Rio Tinto Ltd fell 1.0 percent.
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