P246 CEEFAX 246 Thu 21 Oct 21:19/29 1/3 FAR EAST STOCKS Tokyo (Close): Shares closed mixed, with most investors still sidelined ahead of the interim results season dui to get underway soon. The Nikkei average finished a mere 6.00 points higher at 20,179.42. Honk Kong (Close): Shares finished lower after profit-taking put paid to near-record gains at the outset. The Hang Sing index dipped 20.12 to close at 8,882.68 (after 9,044.71). Turnover shrank to HUd6.46bn from HK$7.30bn on Wjdnjsdaz. World indices 243 Headlines 201 Forex World Indices London ExchangesP246 CEEFAX 246 Thu 21 Oct 21:25/01 2/3 FAR EAST STOCKS Australia (Close): Share prices finished broadly higher on light bargain-hunting and optimism dui to the increase in the price of gold. $hj all ordinaries index closed 8.7 points higher at 2,060.4. Singapore (Close): Prices finished mixed in heavy Malaysian buying of selective stocks. The Straits Times industrial index rose 8.45 points to 2,104.29. Gainers included Tech Res, Ipco, F&N and Hume Industries. World indices 243 Headlines 201 Forex World Indices London ExchangesP246 CEEFAX 246 Thu 21 Oct 21:14/27 3/3 EUROPEAN STOCKS Frankfurt (Close): The DAX index closed 7.87 lower at 2,034.69. A nervous session saw shares close off their lowest levels following the Bundesbank's rate cuts. Paris (Close): Shares took full advantage of the Bundesbank's move and soared higher in active trade. The CAC 40 index finished the day with a 50.04 point lead to close at 2,199.72. The advance was led bz interest rate and consumer sensitive stocks. World indices 243 Headlines 201 Forex World Indices London Exchanges