Asian stocks end upbeat week

Asian markets drifted lower Friday as investors took profits after a
week of gains driven by upbeat earnings news in the United States.
Hong Kong dropped 0.31 percent to end a three- day run as investors
took profits. Analysts said investors would be closely following US
earnings next week for further guidance as to the economic picture.
Sydney shed 0.48 percent while Seoul lost 1.12 percent. Shanghai
slipped 0.11 percent on concerns that the launch later this month of
a Nasdaq-style exchange will divert cash from the main board. TOKYO:
Up 0.18 percent. The Nikkei-225 index climbed 18.91 points to 10 ,
257.56. HONG KONG: Down 0.31 percent. The Hang Seng Index finished
down 69.18 points at 21 ,929.9. SYDNEY: Down 0.48 percent. The
S&P/ASX 200 closed down 23.5 points at 4 ,836.4 SHANGHAI: Down 0.11
percent. The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B
shares, was down 3.16 points to 2 , 976.63. SEOUL: Down 1.12
percent. The KOSPI lost 18.63 points to close at 1 , 640.36. TAIPEI:
Flat. The weighted index rose 4.70 points or 0.06 percent to 7 ,
715.10 SINGAPORE: Down 0.15 percent. The Straits Times Index fell
4.03 points to 2 , 708.12. BANGKOK: Up 3.52 percent. The Stock
Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index rose 24.40 points to
close at 717.12. KUALA LUMPUR: Up 0.8 percent. The Kuala Lumpur
Composite Index gained 9.91 points to 1 , 256.77. JAKARTA: Flat. The
Jakarta Composite Index gained 0.42 points to 2 , 515.80 in thin
volume. MANILA: Down 0.68 percent. The composite index shed 19.97
points to 2 , 922.82. WELLINGTON: Up 0.50 percent. The NZX-50 index
closed 15.91 points higher at 3 , 207.20 MUMBAI: Up 0.74 percent.
The 30- share Sensex index rose 127.62 points to 17 , 322.82 to a
17- month high. Stock markets will be open for ceremonial one- hour
trading on Saturday to mark Divali, the festival of lights.