Monday, August 13, 2007

Asian Shares Gain Ground In Early Trading

Source : Channel NewsAsia, 13 August 2007

SINGAPORE : Asian stocks rose on Monday as central banks around the world pumped billions of US dollars into banking systems in an effort to ease a widening credit crisis.

However analysts said global stock markets were likely to remain jittery after last week's rollercoaster ride, with investors afraid of more bad news about the fallout from problems in US sub-prime mortgages to risky borrowers.

Sentiment was firmed by the late recovery on Wall Street last Friday.

Japanese share prices rose 0.28 percent in early dealings on Monday.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange's Nikkei-225 index of leading shares was up 47.26 points at 16,811.35 after plunging 2.37 percent on Friday to a near five-month low.

In Singapore, shares were also higher in early trading.

The ST index climbed nearly 22 points to 3,381 after 20 minutes of trading.

In South Korea, the key KOSPI index edged up 0.2 percent as market heavyweight Samsung Electronics climbed 0.5 percent and top lender Kookmin Bank added 0.3 percent.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index rose 1.2 percent, boosted by a rebound in the big four local banks such as Commonwealth Bank. - CNA/ch

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