81.   Elsewhere, shares also closed higher in Thailand, the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia.

82.   Elsewhere, shares closed higher in Singapore, Jakarta and Sydney and fell in Wellington and Seoul.

83.   Elsewhere, shares closed lower in Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Australia.

84.   European shares closed higher Friday, spurred by news of merger talks among utilities and good performances by banks, pharmaceuticals and technology shares.

85.   European shares closed higher Thursday, after the European Central Bank decided to leave its key interest rates unchanged.

86.   Hong Kong share closed higher after three straight sessions of sharp losess.

87.   Hong Kong shares closed generally higher, with the government showing no indication that it would give up its intervention in the market.

88.   Hong Kong shares closed higher Thursday, after a stronger yen relieved fears of a new round of Asian currency turmoil and lifted stock markets across the region.

89.   Hong Kong shares closed marginally lower Thursday on listless trading, with cautious investors staying away on the absence of any direction in the market.

90.   Hong Kong shares closed sharply lower Thursday as investors cashed in after gains in the last three consecutive sessions, traders said.