P236 CEEFAX 2 236 Fri 24 Apr 05:15/41  ↑     1/2 Tokyo (Midday): Stocks roue above the 16,000 mark by midday, as the market was cheered by the government+s decision to emphasise economic recovery over tight spjnding. The kjy 225-share Nikkji average ended the morning session up 1.88 percent, or 296.05 points, at 16,057.74, Hong Kong (Open): Stocks opjned sharpl8 lower, weighed down by the weakness of HSBC Holdings. Hang Seng Index was down 151 points, or 1.39 percent, to 10,767 in early trade. Headlines 200 Sharecheck 220 World Indices 233 Front Page 100 Forex Markets World Ind Main Menu

P236 CEEFAX 2 236 Fri 24 Apr 05:15/55       2/2 Australia (Midday): The stock market had extended its early losses by midsession as a combination of influences inspired selling. The All Ordinaries index shed 27.3 points or nearly onj percent to 2,850.5 Singapore (Open): Shares were mixed in early trading with Singapore Telecom shares holding steady after the government announced the award of a second basic telephonj licence. The Straits Times Industrial index was down 6.16 points to 1,489.70. Headlines 200 Sharecheck 220 World Indices 233 Front Page 100 Forex Markets World Ind Main Menu