The All Share Mibtel index closed at 26,874 points, up 16 or 0.06 percent. TOKYO - Japan's Nikkei share average rose 1.4 percent to end at a new five-year closing high as builders including Kajima Corp. and property shares gained after data underscored the economy's strength. The Nikkei rose 225.21 points to 16,194.61, its highest since September 2000. HONG KONG - Hong Kong stocks ended slightly lower, tracking a softer close in New York on Tuesday amid lower crude oil prices, with buying interest from a firmer Japanese market curbing a larger decline. The Hang Seng Index ended 0.54 percent, or 82.04 points, lower at 15,101.54. SYDNEY - Australian shares set their second successive record closing peak, as strong bullion prices lifted gold miners such as Newcrest Mining, while falling bond yields encouraged traders to chase banking stocks. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index rose by 27.9 points, or 0.59 percent, to 4,755.6, beating the previous record closing high of 4,727.7 set on Friday. JOHANNESBURG - Banking stocks led the South African market off its all-time high following American markets' fall on Tuesday, but traded on low volumes. The All-share index closed at 18,078.03 points, down 234.11 or 1.28 percent. The All Gold index closed at 2,460.25 points, down 30.53 or 1.23 percent, while the Industrial index closed at 12,929.17 points, down 154.41 or 1.18 percent. --SP 22 28 Local Time 19 28 GMT
