Tokyo, August 4: Asian stocks ended mostly higher Friday, taking a cue from a late rebound on Wall Street to end the week on a positive note, although many markets were in a wait-and-see mode ahead of key US data due later in the day. Asia's biggest market Tokyo bucked the trend, with investors selling stocks amid concern over semiconductor earnings, The Tokyo Stock Exchange's key Nikkei-225 index lost 147.08 points or 1.0 per cent to finish at 15,667.36 amid earnings concerns.

"Despite a recovery in the Nasdaq yesterday, foreign investors continued to sell off high-tech issues due to their growing concern over earnings by semiconductor makers," said Kazue Mayuzumi, senior market analyst at Nikko Securities. In the afternoon session, the Nikkei index was little changed as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the release of key US July employment data.

Hong Kong: Hong Kong shares rose 0.9 per cent, closing off earlier highs, as investors turned cautious ahead of the release of US employment data later in the day. The key Hang Seng index gained 151.42 points to close at 17,425.70, after reaching 17,555.20.

Financial and property stocks led the gains early in the day after Wall Street ended higher, and continued to be buoyed by strong interim results from HSBC and Hang Seng Bank on Monday, said Ricky Tam, Research Director of Pacific Challenge Securities.

Singapore: Singapore shares closed 0.4 per cent higher, nudged by overnight gains on Wall Street but profit-taking lopped off gains. The Straits Times index climbed 7.70 points to 2,052.73 while the broader All-Singapore Equities Index inched up 0.03 points.

"The market closed off its highs as retail punters took profits in the absence of follow-through buying," a dealer with a local brokerage said. Much of the buying, even on blue chips, had been coming from retail investors. "Big institutional investors are mostly sidelined," he said.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian shares ended 0.6 per cent higher in thin trade, as institutions held the market up when they bought selected blue chip stocks. The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange composite index closed up 5.12 points at 814.99.

Seoul: South Korean share prices closed 1.7 per cent lower on foreign and institutional selling. The Korea Stock Exchange index closed down 12.08 points at 710.00. "Foreign investor are selling on all fronts... on the main board, (the tech-heavy, second-exchange) KOSDAQ, and the futures market, and institutions are also joining the selling spree," Lee Yong-Woo of Hyundai Investment said.

Manila: Philippine share prices ended 1.1 per cent higher, rising for a third day as investors continued to buy stocks hammered by a recent five-day slump. The Philippine Stock Exchange's composite index rose 15.12 points to close at 1,451.18.

"This is just a technical rally, a continuation from yesterday," said Russell Ong of Anscor-Hagedorn Securities Inc. Taipei: Taiwanese shares closed one per cent higher on strong buying of technology stocks following sharp gains on Wall Street overnight. The Taiwan Stock Exchange weighted prices index rose 80.27 points to 7,925.20, after closing at 7,844.93 on Thursday, its fourth day of declines.

"The tech-heavy Nasdaq's rally has helped revive buying interest in technology stocks here," said Alex Chio, analyst at Dresdner RCM Global Investors Securities Investment Consulting Co. Capital Securities analyst Daniel Hsin attributed the rebound to bargain-hunting after the market hit its bottom in recent days.

Bangkok: Thai share prices rose 1.1 per cent in solid trading across the board, with continued buying from foreign investors boosting sentiment. But late profit-taking capped earlier sharp gains, as concerns about the release of US July unemployment data later today worried some investors, they said.

Jakarta: Indonesian share prices closed 0.4 per cent higher amid easing political tension ahead of next Monday's annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). The market was positive as many players believe President Abdurrahman Wahid will not face impeachment during the 12-day MPR session, an analyst with Dongsuh Kolibindo Securities said ."Normally, the market is under selling pressure on Friday. Today's market rise shows that players were optimistic that there would be no big surprise in the session," he said.