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WORLD STOCK EXCHANGES(Pakistan & Gulf Economist Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE Australian shares rose 0.1 percent on Friday to post the biggest weekly gain in 9 months as market sentiment was underpinned by a record close on Wall Street. Weakness in miners, however, capped gains. The S and P/ASX 200 index added 6.4 points to finish at 5013.5. On the week it was up 2.5 percent, snapping 4 consecutive weeks of losses, and marking the biggest gain since July 2012. TAIWAN STOCK EXCHANGE On Friday, Taiwan stocks slipped 0.46 percent weighed by computer makers after tech research company Gartner said global PC shipment in the 1st quarter dropped to the lowest in 15th quarters. Taiwanese netbook pioneer Asustek plummeted 5.5 percent, while PC vendor Acer shed 3.2 percent. The main TAIEX index fell 36.35 points to 7,821.63, after opening flat. Smartphone vendor HTC Corp gained 2.0 percent. The Taiwan dollar edged up T$0.045 to stand at T$29.935 to the US dollar. TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE Japanese shares slipped on Friday, coming off a near 5-year high, but they still ended the week sharply higher, buoyed by optimism that bold central bank policies would revitalize the economy. The benchmark Nikkei closed 0.5 percent lower at 13,485.14. It opened up 0.1 percent at 13,568.25, its highest level since July 2008, before moving into negative territory. EUROPEAN STOCKS EXCHANGE On Friday, European shares sank reversing nearly half of the week's gains, knocked lower by rekindled worries about Cyprus's bailout plan and an unexpected drop in US monthly retail sales. Miners were particularly hammered, with Eurasian down 3 percent and Randgold resources down 4.6 percent, as metal prices like gold and copper sharply fell. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE On Friday, Britain's FTSE 100 edged lower with concerns about a fresh flare up of the euro zone crisis and weak US facts prompting investors to take some profits on the index's best week in 3 months. News that Cyprus is considering asking the EU to front load the payment of structural funds reignited concerns about the cost of bailing out euro zone states. KARACHI STOCK EXCHANGE In Karachi stock exchange, the benchmark index shed 50.27 points to close at 18,714.28 points against 18,764.55 points Thursday. It was expected that economic uncertainty on falling FX reserves after IMF repayments, circular debt issues in Pakistan energy sector and security concerns in the city affected the sentiments. On Friday, the market capitalization remained under pressure and with a decrease of Rs 14.54 billion; it closed at Rs 4.601 trillion from Rs 4.615 trillion. The trading side witnessed higher trend and the turnover closed up at 180.488 million against 125.168 million shares. Out of total 331 active scrips, 138 companies went up, 172 went down and that of 21 remained unchanged. TRG Pakistan succeeded to gain the position of volume leader and with an increase of 98 paisa, it closed at Rs 8.31 on a turnover of some 35.50 million, respectively. MUMBAI STOCK EXCHANGE Indian shares recorded their biggest single-day fall since late February on Friday after lower-than-expected revenue guidance from Infosys raised concerns about the outlook for the software services exporting sector. The benchmark share index closed down for a 2nd straight week, having fallen in 6 of the last 8 trading sessions. The index lost 1.1 percent this week, with foreign investors selling shares worth a net 269 million rupees over 6 days to Wednesday. HONG KONG STOCK EXCHANGE Hong Kong shares outperformed China this week but both markets ended on a sombre note on Friday with cyclical sectors broadly weaker ahead of data next week that could offer more clues to the recovery in the world's 2nd largest economy. Investors drew mixed signals from China data this week, with March inflation weaker than expected while an unexpected trade deficit and a surge in liquidity in the mainland raised concern about the risks to the financial system. The Shanghai Composite Index and CSI300 of the top Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listings was each down 0.6 percent on the day. They posted their third-straight weekly loss, losing 0.9 and 0.8 percent, respectively. The Hang Seng Index slipped 0.1 percent, while the China Enterprises Index of the leading Chinese listings in Hong Kong shed 0.5 percent. They rose 1.7 and 2.2 percent this week, their respective best weekly showing since January. SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCKS EXCHANGE Thai benchmark stock index hit a one-week high on Friday after the Bank of Thailand raised its 2013 economic growth forecast, while Malaysia's main index slipped into negative territory after institutional-led selling. Most other Southeast Asian stock markets finished off their day's highs, tracking Asian shares which retreated after recent gains. Bangkok's SET index rose 0.7 percent to 1,527.32, the highest close since April 4. Demand for dividend-yielding stocks sent top mobile phone operator Advanced Info Service Pcl to a record close of 257 baht, up 5.8 percent. Thailand's central bank raised its 2013 economic growth forecast to 5.1 percent from 4.9 percent on Friday. The SET index outperformed the region on the week, up 2.5 percent, slightly ahead of the Philippines' 2.4 percent. Philippine index ended the week at a record closing high of 6,891.43, led by big caps such as SM Investments Corp. Trading volume of Thai stock market halved the full day average over the past 30 sessions ahead of a 4-day weekend. The exchange will be closed on April 15-16 for holidays, reopening on April 17. Malaysia's main index fell 0.5 percent to 1,698.53, with local institutions selling a net 253 million ringgit while foreign investors buying a net 223 million ringgit, stock exchange data showed. |