Asian markets close lower
Asian markets close lower Asian markets closed on a negative note for the first time in five days on Monday (Sep. 17, 2007) after the U.S. justice department started investigating - makers of flash-memory chips, and a fall in crude oil prices. The world`s biggest maker of NAND flash memory, Samsung Electronics touched its three months low. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing fell after chip prices declined. The world`s biggest mining company, BHP Billiton declined, after oil prices dropped from a record high. Hong Kong`s index Hang Seng, lost 298.77 points, or 1.20% to rule at 24,599.34. China`s Shanghai Composite rose 109.21 points, or 2.06%, to trade at 5,421.39. Taiwan`s index Taiex lost 131.72 points, or 1.46%, to trade at 8,899.91. South Korea`s KOSPI rose 1.66 points, or 0.09%, to trade at 1,871.68. Singapore`s Straits Times lost 60.09 points, or 1.70%, to trade at 3,476.31. (3.20 p .m. IST, Monday)
