P246 CEEFAX 246 Fri 15 Apr 21:15/27 1/3 FAR EAST STOCKS Tokyo (Close): End-of-week factors pared earlier gains in late trade. The Nikkei average finished 177.43 points X0.9%) higher at 20,164.63. Brokers said investors were putting Mr Hosokawa's exit behind them. Honk Kong (Close): Prices slipped back in continued dull trading. One broker cited worries about US interest rates and China's economy. The Hank Sing index finished 64.57 points lower at 9,536.06. Headlines 201 World indices 243 Forex rld Indices London ExchangesP246 CEEFAX 246 Fri 15 Apr 21:18/27 2/3 FAR EAST STOCKS Australia (Close): Stocks drifted to an easier close, with investors largely sidelined. The All Ordinaries index finished 14.4 points adrift at 2,080.6. Brokers said the market had adopted a wait-and-see stance ahead of this afternoon's batch of US statistics. Singapore (Close): Profit-taking in advbnce of the weekend hit prices. $hj Straits Times Industrials index was down 25.19 points at 2,212.18. It had earlier reached 2,254.70. Headlines 201 World indices 243 Forex rld Indices London ExchangesP246 CEEFAX 246 Fri 15 Apr 21:19/34 G EUROPEAN STOCKS Frankfurt (Close): German shares were steady at the close, with options expiries dominating trade. $hj Schnjidjr property scandal continued to pressure banks. The DAX index closed the session just 1.71 points ahead at 2,200.42. Paris (Close): The CAC 40 index closed 20.54 higher at 2,159.59. Stocks rallied strongly, reversing early losses, in response to a firm performance on Wall Street. Headlines 201 World indices 243 Forex rld Indices London Exchanges