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Updated Saturday, September 4, 2010 9:21 pm TWN, By Danny McCord, AFP

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Asian stocks mostly higher ahead of US jobs data

“Gains may be limited since the yen's strength, which is our biggest concern, shows no signs of receding,” Kazuhiro Takahashi, general manager at Daiwa Securities Capital Markets, said.

“We'd like to see how the dollar moves against the yen after U.S. jobs data later today,” he said.

Oil was lower. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for October delivery, fell 43 cents to US$74.59 a barrel in the afternoon.

Brent North Sea crude for October delivery, shed 42 cents to US$76.51.

Gold closed at US$1,251.60-US$1,252.60 an ounce in Hong Kong, up from Thursday's closing price of US$1,247.50-US$1,248.50.

In other markets:

— Singapore closed up 0.53 percent, or 15.90 points, at 3,002.56.

DBS Group fell 0.79 percent to SG$6.42 while Fraser and Neave gained 1.44 percent to SG$5.65.

— Seoul closed 0.24 percent, or 4.29 points, higher at 1,780.02.

— Taipei rose 1.42 percent, or 109.39 points, to 7,830.21.

Hon Hai rose 0.9 percent to NT$111.5 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company was 0.5 percent higher at NT$59.8.

— Jakarta rose 1.35 percent, or 42.13 points, to 3,164.27.

Bank Negara Indonesia gained 3.7 percent to 3,500 rupiah, while telecoms company Indosat jumped 7.1 percent to 4,900.

— Kuala Lumpur closed down 0.37 percent, or 5.40 points, at 1,435.67.

Telecoms firm Axiata eased 0.6 percent to 4.51 ringgit and top bank Maybank also lost 0.6 percent to 8.45 ringgit.

— Manila rose 1.86 percent, or 68.16 points, at 3,734.70.

Metropolitan Bank and Trust rose 2.9 percent to 68.95 pesos and Philippine Long Distance Telephone gained 0.4 percent to 2,440 pesos.

— Wellington closed up 0.81 percent, or 24.95 points, at 3,107.43.

Telecom added 0.99 percent to NZ$2.05, medical devices maker Fisher & Paykel Healthcare gained 1.3 percent to 3.02 and Fletcher Building was up 0.9 percent at NZ$7.75.

— Bangkok rose 1.02 percent, or 9.36 points, to close at 929.90.

The market finished at its highest close since October 2007.

Banpu rose 8.00 baht to 634.00 and PTT gained 22.00 baht at 291.00.

— Mumbai closed flat, edging 16.88 points lower to 18,221.43.

India's largest private firm, Reliance Industries fell 1.23 percent to 925.6 rupees while aluminum producer Hindalco fell 1.47 percent to 170.4.

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