The Tokyo Stock Exchange's Nikkei-225 index fell 64.28 points to close at 15,928.62, in the lowest trading volumes for this year. "Few investors took part in today's trading as the settlement for the half-year is nearing at the end of this month," said Nikko Securities senior market analyst Hiroichi Nishi.

"The forthcoming settlement makes it hard for investors to actively sell or buy issues," the broker said. Investors also feared another shock to follow last week's revenue warning by US giant Intel Corp., the world's biggest computer chip maker. Stocks had recovered from the Intel effect on Monday after a weekend G7 meeting made reassuring noises about oil prices and the weak euro, and leading central banks had intervened to support the euro.

Hong Kong: Share prices fell 0.9 per cent on profit-taking coupled with overnight falls on Wall Street. The key Hang Seng index lost 138.10 points to close at 15,290.85, off a high of 15,426.32, on turnover of 7.35 billion Hong Kong dollars (940 million US).

They said the thin market turnover was an indication that investors were reserving their cash for the upcoming initial public offerings of Chinese petroleum and petrochemical giant Sinopec and the Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC).

Singapore: Share prices rose 0.6 per cent on selective buying of blue chip stocks but gains were tempered by continuing worries over volatile oil prices. The Straits Times Index advanced 11.88 points to 1,989.48 while the broader All Singapore Equities Index edged up 1.59 points to 523.06.

"The market was led up by just a couple of stocks like banks and some blue chips. I still wouldn't call this a bullish market," a dealer with a local brokerage said. Trading volumes remained thin, indicating feeble support from institutional investors amid lingering concerns over high world crude prices, he said. Investors pocketed banking stocks which were normally "seen as safe havens amid uncertainties," he added.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian shares closed fractionally lower with last-minute institutional support propping up an otherwise listless market. The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange composite index fell 0.07 points to finish at 735.54.

"It's a very listless market. There's not much trading done. Volume seems to be shrinking by the day," said a dealer with a local brokerage.

Seoul: South Korean share prices rose 0.5 per cent led by financials and selected blue chips program buying. The Korea Stock index closed up 2.97 points at 587.60

Daishin Securities' Shin Yong-Kyu said continuing concerns over the stalled sale of Daewoo Motor Co and the restructuring of financial institutions were preventing further gains.

Manila: Philippine share prices rose 0.1 per cent due to last-minute bargain hunting but the outlook remains weak. The Philippine Stock Exchange composite index rose two points to 1,426.17. Joey Roxas of Eagle Equities Inc. said the upturn was due to "late-session bargain hunting", primarily in blue chips.

Taipei: Taiwan share prices closed 1.1 per cent higher following strong buying by government-linked funds. The Taiwan Stock Exchange weighted price index rose 71.57 points to 6,749.03, after a 1.0-per cent rise in the previous session.

"The government-related funds bought semiconductor shares to shore up the stock market. That's why the TSMC was limit-up today," said Peter Chang, head of Polaris Securities Advisory Company.

Bangkok: Thai stocks rose 0.7% with buying of Financial stocks spurring interest in the broader market. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index added 1.83 points to close at 282.08 and the SET 50 rose 0.13 points to 19.48. An analyst with a local brokerage said the market could not extend its morning gains due to the lack of clear market leads to support follow-through buying.

Jakarta: Indonesian share prices closed 0.2 per cent higher on a rebound by selected blue chips.

The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index closed up 0.956 points at 411.854. The dealers said market sentiment remained weak ahead of the resumption of former President Suharto's trial on Thursday, which is seen as carrying the risk of unrest or bombings.