P246 CEEFAX 246 Thu 7 Oct 21:20/47 1/3 O FAR EAST STOCKS Tokyo (Close): Shares dipped ahead of the October options jxpiries, amid speculation that new stock index futures will bj announced very soon, dealers said. The 225-share Nikkei average fell 234.62 points (1.14) to 20,265.63, with 300 million shares traded. Honk Kong (Close): The Hang Sing index closed 25.22 points higher at 8,066.79. Early profit-taking tailed off and shares closed at their fifth consecutive record high. World indices 243 Headlines 201 Forex World Indice London ExchangesP246 CEEFAX 246 Thu 7 Oct 21:12/17 2/3 FAR EAST STOCKS Australia (Close): Stocks recovered to close narrowly firmer despite sluggish progress. The All Ordinaries closed with a 3.7 point lead at 2,022.5. "The market has been quite volatile and is continuing its uptrend," said one trader. Singapore (Close): Share prices closed easier as over-the-counter shares succumbed to profit-taking. The Straits Times industrial index fell 1.71 points to 2,037.41. World indices 243 Headlines 201 Forex World Indices London ExchangesP246 CEEFAX 246 Thu 7 Oct 21:14/09 3/3 EUROPEAN STOCKS Frankfurt (Close): German shares were priced moderatly higher, but the market failed to breach the 2,000 level on the DAX. Dealers were little surprised at the lack of a German rate cut at Thursday's Bundesbank meeting. The DAX index finished 9.99 points higher at 1,:97.04. Paris (Close): The CAC 40 index finished 17.05 lower at 2,147.41. Profit-taking jmjrgjd as a lack of rate cuts limited the upside. World indices 243 Headlines 201 Forex World Indices London Exchanges