week high on continued speculation about a change in the country's currency peg with the U.S. dollar. The weighted Composite Index of 100 blue chips gained 11.04 points, or 1.2 percent, at 903.07. MANILA: Philippine shares ended little changed in the absence of fresh buying incentives as investors shrugged off the latest U.S. interest rate hike. The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 1.06 points, or 0.1 percent, at 1,866.17. SEOUL: South Korean shares rallied as institutional investors snapped up large-capitalization stocks amid eased uncertainties over an interest-rate decision in the U.S. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, surged 15.53 points, or 1.7 percent, to 929.35. SINGAPORE: Share prices advanced, lifted by Wall Street's marginal gains. The benchmark Straits Times Index put on 12.21 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,149.38. SYDNEY: Australian shares were dragged down by profit warnings and disappointing retail sales data. The S&P/ASX 200 index lost 39.20 points, or 1.0 percent, to 3,947.10. TAIPEI: Taiwan shares fell marginally after a U.S. interest rate hike sparked worries over rising corporate borrowing costs and foreign fund outflows. The Weighted Price Index dropped 14.54 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,803.68. WELLINGTON: New Zealand shares declined as investors were cautious ahead of company results season. The NZSX-50 index shed 7.10 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,991.86. The stock market in Shanghai was closed for a public holiday.
