TOKYO

Japanese stocks fell 1.32 per cent on Thursday, depressed by a weak performance overnight on Wall Street and worries about domestic firms' plans to issue new shares.

The benchmark Nikkei-225 index dropped 127.33 points to 9,549.47. The broader Topix index of all first-section shares fell 12.35 points, or 1.45 percent, to 837.71.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong shares closed 0.86 per cent lower on Thursday, falling for a third straight day, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 197.17 points to 22,643.16. Turnover was HK$69.28 billion. SHANGHAI Chinese shares closed up 0.53 per cent on Thursday, led by energy companies and utilities amid expectations that demand would surge after snow storms in northern China, dealers said.

SHANGHAI

The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was up 17.38 points at 3,320.61 on turnover of 194.7 billion yuan (S$39.6 billion).

The Shanghai A-share index rose 18.18 points, or 0.52 per cent, to 3,482.58 on turnover of 193.8 billion yuan, while the Shenzhen A-share index gained 15.13 points, or 1.21 percent, to 1,262.25 on turnover of 124.7 billion yuan.