Most Asian share markets rise but Europe loses ground amid economic uncertainty

Asian shares advance, Europe extends losses

SHANGHAI — World markets were mixed Thursday, as Asian shares posted moderate gains after an industry report showing rising demand for chips buoyed technology companies, while Europe stayed in the doldrums.

Uncertainty over the economic outlook for coming months kept benchmarks within a narrow range in Asia, though upbeat earnings results from U.S. retailers provided some relief from the bad news that has recently battered global markets.

“The markets are in a consolidation mood in the absence of fresh incentives,” said Ben Kwong Man Bun, chief operating officer at KGI Securities in Hong Kong.

In Europe, France’s CAC-40 was down 0.4 percent at 3,634.55. Britain’s FTSE 100 slid 0.9 percent to 5,302.87 and Germany’s DAX lost 0.4 percent to 6,163.53. Futures pointed to slight gains on Wall Street with Dow futures up 6 points, or 0.1 percent, at 10,358.00.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock average gained 122.14 points, or 1.3 percent, to 9,362.68, though gains were capped by concern over the strong yen as investors awaited a possible meeting next week between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa.

Oil prices stayed above $75 a barrel Thursday in Asia amid investor concerns U.S. economic growth will slow in the second half and stymie demand for crude.

Chinese shares were higher after a slow start on expectations the government will keep its economic policies stable, said Peng Yunliang, an analyst at Shanghai Securities, in Shanghai.

“It looks like worries over inflation have been eased by recent economic data, and investors believe the government has firm control over the situation,” Peng said.

The Shanghai Composite Index added 0.8 percent to 2,687.98, led by refiners and other energy companies. Heavyweight oil and gas giant PetroChina climbed 1.8 percent while Sinopec jumped 3.9 percent.

Chinese property developers lost further ground following news that the southwestern city of Chongqing was approved to start a trial tax on property transactions, with Poly Real Estate dropping 2.2 percent.

Tech shares fueled upward momentum in Japan and South Korea. Tokyo Electron Ltd., which makes chip-related equipment, jumped 5.3 percent after an industry report showed rising demand. South Korea’s Hynix Semiconductor Inc. added 3.7 percent.

South Korea’s Kospi climbed 1 percent to 1,779.64 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index rose 0.2 percent to 21,068.15.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 recovered from early losses to gain 0.1 percent to 4,479.00, though sentiment was clouded by uncertainties over miner BHP Billiton Ltd.’s hostile $38.5 billion takeover bid for one of the world’s biggest fertilizer producers.

In New York on Wednesday, the Dow Jones industrials inched up 0.1 percent to 10,415.54 after investors found some consolation in retail earnings reports. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 0.2 percent to 1,094.16, and the Nasdaq composite index added 0.3 percent to 2,215.70.

In currencies, the dollar rose to 85.65 yen from 85.47 yen late Wednesday. The euro fell to $1.2835 from $1.2841.

Benchmark crude for September delivery was up 25 cents at $75.67 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract lost 35 cents to settle at $75.42 on Wednesday after dropping as low as $73.83.