P506ORACLE 506 Mon 2 Dec C4 1702:47  W/RLD  1/2 W    Monday    TOKYO Trading began on a firm note but tapered off as investors retreated to the sidelines. By the close only an estimated 210m shares had changeb hands Electricals found buyers while chemical and investment issues fell but the Nikkei average rose 17.39 to 12,796.92 although the TSE lost 0.68 to 1,007.81. HONG KONG Prices closed lower as the market awaited a sell-off by shareholders in Singapore, where trade has been suspended. The Hang Seng index fell below the 1700 mark to end at 1,694.57, down 22.38. >> MICROWAVE SERVICE ENGINEER NEEDED BY TOSHIBA SEE RECRU)TMENT on 498

P506ORACLE 506 Mon 2 Dec C4 1700:33  W/RLD  2/2 W    Monday    SYDNEY The market turned in one of its dullest performances for months with the All-Orbinaries inedx losing 2.4 to 988.2 on turnover of about A$24m. SINGAPORE Market closed after collapse of Pan-Electric Industries. See p525 JOHANNESBURG Gold shares tradeb lower in a slow start but industrials held steady, though largely neglected. >>>>>  City headlines 500