Tokyo's stock prices were lifted by gains by exporters Wednesday, but Hong Kong was dragged down by telecommunications shares as most Asian markets declined, REPORTED AP. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index rose 55.15 points, or 0.33 percent, to finish at 16,692.93 points. Auto makers and other exporter stocks benefited from the yen's retreat against the U.S. dollar. Nissan Motor Co. rose 1.39 percent and Sony Corp. added 1.88 percent. Airliner stocks also advanced following a decline in oil futures prices, traders said. All Nippon Airways Co. posted a 1.40 percent gain. Sharp Corp. lost 1.45 percent following news that several governments were investigating a possible cartel involving makers of liquid crystal display monitors. In Hong Kong, the blue-chip Hang Seng Index dropped 188.98 points, or 1 percent, to 18,718.19. Chinese telecom stocks, which rose last week on news about new China 3G licenses, fell sharply Wednesday. Fixed-line operator China Telecom fell 3.96 percent and China Netcom lost 1.54 percent. Both received news last week that they are likely to get their 3G mobile licenses. In currency trading, the dollar rose against both the euro and the yen. The euro fell to US$1.3263, from $1.3277. The greenback bought 116.96 yen in Tokyo late Wednesday, up from 116.90 yen from late Tuesday in New York. In Mumbai, banks rebounded Wednesday, helping push Indian shares higher after losing over 800 points in two preceding sessions. The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-stock Sensitive Index, or Sensex, rose 186.32 points, or 1.4 percent, to 13,181.34.
