SINGAPORE (Agencies): Asian stocks were mostly stronger on Tuesday, shrugging off a modest fall on Wall Street and responding positively to Taiwan's latest attempt to support its markets.
Taiwan stocks surged five percent at the opening after the government announced further stimulus measures to support battered sentiment.
The Taiwan index dropped 13 percent last week after Taipei's abandonment of its ""one China"" policy triggered a row with rival China on the island's political status.
News of the T$500 billion (US$15 billion) stabilization fund, which includes T$300 billion already announced, helped the TAIEX index close up 5.7 percent at 7,806.9.
The Taiwan Stock Exchange weighted price index soared 419.96 points to 7,806.85.
""Sentiment has turned bullish after repeated state stimulus moves, which are all seen effective for both the short and long term,"" said Michael On, president of Beyond Asset Management.
In Kuala Lumpur, share prices closed barely lower as local funds snapped up selected bluechips in late trade to pare earlier losses, dealers said.
The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange composite index slipped 0.1 percent, or 1.02 points, to close at 830.75, off an earlier low of 819.31 points.
In Bangkok, Thai shares rose 1.3 percent on the back of improved regionalsentiment led by a sharp rally in Taiwan, dealers said.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) main index firmed 6.25 points to 487.95 while the SET 50 selected index was 0.38 points higher at 34.28.
In Jakarta, Indonesian share prices fell 1.3 percent on follow-through selling in select bluechips and profit taking in pharmaceutical issues, dealers said.
The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index closed down 8.410 points at 649.861. The rupiah was trading at 6,690 to 6,700 against the dollar.
In Singapore, stock prices closed 0.8 percent higher on renewed institutional buying support, dealers said.
The key Straits Times index closed up 16.57 points to end at 2,137.91.
In Hong Kong, shares prices closed 1.1 percent higher in cautious trade despite concerns over lingering tensions between China and Taiwan, dealers said.
The key Hang Seng index gained 153.27 points to close at 13,600.40.
In Shanghai, Shanghai's B shares regained 9.6 percent, staging a technical rebound following a series of sharp declines over recent sessions, analysts said.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange's B-share index, which tracks shares nominally reserved for foreigners, gained 3.51 points to 40.03. The A-shareindex of locally traded stocks ended up 101.14 points, or 6.4 percent, to 1,674.42.
In Sydney, Australian shares shot up 1.4 percent as key industrial and banking stocks buoyed the broader market against a negative lead from Wall Street, brokers said.
The Australian Stock Exchange's benchmark All Ordinaries index soared 43.1 points to 3,127.1.
