Seoul - Shares closed 4.7 per cent higher Wednesday on the Seoul stock exchange as the US government's rescue plan for Citigroup Inc helped boost investor confidence.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks closed lower Wednesday on renewed concerns about the economy of the United States, a major export market for Japan.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 110.71 points, or 1.33 per cent, to close at 8,213.22. The index gained more than 5 per cent Tuesday after the US government announced a bail-out plan for the struggling Citigroup Inc.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 14.36 points, or 1.73 per cent, at 817.22.

Sydney  - BHP Billiton Ltd's aborted bid for mining rival Rio Tinto Ltd dragged Australian stocks down Wednesday.

The ASX 200 gave up 83 points, or 2.2 per cent, to close at 3,540.

Rio's share price plunged by a third in the wake of BHP's decision to call off its hostile takeover bid over concerns it would be taking on too much debt if it won control of the world's second-biggest producer of iron ore.

In contrast, investors welcomed the failure of the bid, driving up the share price of the world's biggest mining company by 4 per cent.

"BHP is a better story with a lot less debt," said DJ Carmichael and Co analyst Chris Chong.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks ended Wednesday morning trading lower on renewed concerns about the economy of the United States, a major export market for Japan.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 108.27 points, or 1.3 per cent, to trade at 8,215.66. The index gained more than 5 per cent Tuesday after the US government announced a bail-out plan for the struggling Citigroup Inc.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 14.03 points, or 1.69 per cent, at 817.55.

Amman - Most Middle East stock markets rebounded on Tuesday, propelled by a US plan to rescue the Citigroup conglomerate, a 30- billion-dollar British stimulus plan and improving oil prices, financial analysts said.

Jordanian shares rose for the first time in 10 days, encouraged by the Central Bank of Jordan's decision to slash the basic interest rate by 0.5 percentage points.