Tokyo  - Japan's benchmark Nikkei index lost 4 per cent by the close of morning trading Thursday after Wall Street plummeted overnight and the Japanese government's machinery orders for November showed the largest decline on record.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 335.68 points to 8,102.77, and the broader Topix index of all First Section issues was also down 20.15 points, or 2.46 per cent, to 799.24.

Japan's core machinery orders posted a record monthly decline in November, the Cabinet Office said Thursday.

Sydney  - The dive on Wal

After a positive opening, the Sensex continued its positive run on account of heavy buying action seen across several large, medium and small cap stocks.

IT, metal, oil & gas and banking stocks led the rally.

Reflecting heavy buying at several side counters, the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices have gained 1.73% and 1.29% respectively.

The 30-share index, BSE Sensex, today (Jan 14), opened at 9,207.52 after making a gain of 136.16 points.

New Delhi - India's key Sensex index rose by nearly 3 per cent in early trade Wednesday on a revival of buying by foreign investors and funds tracking cues from firming trends in other Asian bourses.

Snapping a four-session losing streak after the Satyam accounting fraud, the 30-share index was trading at 9,340.16, gaining 268.90 points or 2.96 per cent at 11.30 am (0600 GMT).

Similarly, the broader National Stock Exchange's Nifty index rose 2.63 per cent to 2817.10 at the same time.

Indian equities on Tuesday (Jan 13) ended the day on a negative note.

The BSE barometer opened weak following global cues, but better-than-expected results from technology giant Infosys turned out a good enough trigger for the stock market to make recovery after an early setback.

IT stocks outperformed, while banking, metal and oil & gas stocks went down.

Among the sectoral indices, BSE IT climbed 4.71%, whereas BSE Oil & gas, Bankex and Metal declined more than 1% each.  

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks opened higher Wednesday but gains were limited due to lingering economic concerns.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 68.11 points, or 0.81 per cent, to 8,482.02.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues was also up 11.29 points, or 1.39 per cent, to 825.41.

On the currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 89.35-40 yen, up from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 89.25-28 yen.