Asian Markets Update: Major Markets Jump

TOKYO -- Asian shares jumped on Friday as U.S. markets recovered overnight, but most traders are viewing the bounce as a one-off event.

In Japan, local fund managers buying selected tech shares before the close of the fiscal first-half Sept. 30 helped the Nikkei 225 index rise 120.30 to 15,747.26. The Topix index, which includes all shares listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, rose 31.35, or 2.2%, to 1470.78, the Jasdaq small-cap gained 0.86, or 1.2%, to 75.03, while the Nikkei over-the-counter index climbed 17.40, or 1.1%, to 1588.95.

Despite cutting its planned shipment of PlayStation 2 game consoles to North America, shares of Sony (SNE Quote) jumped 320 yen, or 3.0%, to 10,960 ($101.67). NEC (NIPNY Quote) also picked up some trading volume, rising 80, or 3.4%, to 2455. Semiconductor equipment makers slumped, however, as investors in Japan feared a slow down in the global mobile-phone business. Tokyo Electron shed 190, or 1.9%, to 9800, while Advantest fell 510, or 2.9%, to 16,980.

Nissan Motor (NSANY Quote) was the play of the day, with shares rising 83, or 15.5%, to 620. Thanks to a vigorous three-year restructuring program, Nissan revised upward its profits for the fiscal first-half and for the full year ending March, prompting Goldman Sachs to upgrade its assessment on shares to the recommended list from market outperform.

Other automakers went along for the ride, with Toyota Motor (TM Quote) up 110, or 2.6%, to 4270, and Honda Motor (HMC Quote), up 110, or 2.8%, to 3980.

Traders in Tokyo said they expect quiet trading for Monday, as investors wait for Tuesday's release of the Bank of Japan's tankan survey of corporate sentiment. Most experts reckon business confidence will rise among large manufacturers but will wither for small to mid-sized firms. Worries about U.S. stock market moves also had investors cautious in Asia.

The greenback edged a notch or two higher against the yen to 107.80.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index bounced 233.23, or 1.5%, to 15,648.98 as property and banks shares rallied. Hang Seng Bank (HSNGY Quote) rose HK$3.25, or 4.0%, to 85.25 ($10.93), while Sun Hung Kai Properties (SUHJY Quote) gained 3.50, or 5.0%, to 73.25. The latter announced fiscal first-half profits of HK$10.8 billion, a 17% rise from the same time last year, after the market closed Thursday.

Telecom firms also fared well, with Hutchison Whampoa (HUWHY Quote) rising 1.50, or 1.5%, to 103.50, and China Mobile (CHL Quote) gaining 1.25, or 2.5%, to 51.75. Quiet trading surrounded Pacific Century Cyberworks (PCW Quote), which fell 0.05 to 8.95. Pacific Century said late Thursday the firm lost HK$35 million for the fiscal first-half, a smaller-than-expected loss, but with investors still wondering about the firm's mobile-phone venture with Australia's Telstra, shares may not have a chance to rally above 12.00 in the near future, traders said.

Elsewhere in Asia, Korea's Kospi index gained 7.37, or 1.2%, to 613.22, while Taiwan's TWSE index shed 132.51, or 2.0%, to 6432.26.