British Airways plc

Tokyo stocks opened sharply lower Friday with investor sentiment hurt by Sony Corp.'s forecast of an annual operating loss as well as by a fall in U.S. shares overnight due to disappointing corporate earnings there. Yesterday the Aisan markets gained on the good lead from Wall Street. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index firmed 0.6% to 12657.99. The Shanghai Composite Index added 1%. South Korea's Kospi Composite rose 1.1% to 1116.23.

Yesterday the Australian shares ended flat as weaker Commonwealth Bank and energy stocks weighed on the market. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 10.6 points, or 0.3 per cent, at 3,581.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index gained 6.7 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 3,521.7. It could be fairly quiet during the pre-Christmas sessions. But the local market may be hit by the dropping commodities prices and the fears on US auto industry as US government has admitted that orderly bankruptcy can be one of the options for the troubled automakers.

On Friday, the Australian stock market closed lower, with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index fell 42.5 points, or 1.2 per cent, to 3,489.9, while the broader All Ordinaries reversed 40.9 points, or 1.18 per cent, to 3,427.2. The ASX200 lost about 6.8%, and the broader All Ordinary fell 6.7% for the week. Resource stocks may continue the decline after the price of commodities, including gold, oil and copper fell.

Yesterday the Australia market closed lower dragged by resource sector although the central bank's aggressive rate cut of 100 basis points lifted some sentiment in late trading. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed down 153 points, or 4.16 per cent, at 3,528.2, while the broader All Ordinaries index was 145.6 points, or 4.02 per cent, lower at 3,473.4. Analysts anticipate a rise today in local market with positive lead from the US and the RBA rate cut.