HONG KONG, Oct 01, 2009 (AFP) - Asian markets fell Thursday as a confidence survey in Japan heightened worries over the nation's recovery prospects, while more weak US jobs data also darkened the mood. The Tokyo Nikkei dropped 1.53 percent. Investor caution set in despite the key Tankan survey showing improved sentiment among major manufacturers who nevertheless plan to slash spending on plants and equipment by 25.6 percent in the year to March 2010. Sydney eased 0.90 percent, while Seoul was 1.70 percent lower as the won strengthened against the US dollar. Regional trading was quiet Thursday with Chinese and Hong Kong markets closed for the National Day holiday. Dealers were also downbeat on Wall Street's 0.31 percent fall. That came after payrolls firm ADP said Wednesday that the US private sector shed 254,000 jobs in September, higher than the 200,000 expected by most analysts. Investors were also unmoved by a report showing the world's biggest economy shrank at a revised 0.7 percent pace -- better than the previous figure of a 1.0 percent decline -- in the second quarter. Hong Kong and Shanghai were closed for China's National Day public holiday. TOKYO: Down 1.53 percent. The Nikkei-225 dropped 154.59 points to 9,978.64. The index is at its lowest since July 24. The Tankan also showed the outlook for earnings remains bleak as major manufacturers are assuming the dollar will average 94.50 yen during this fiscal year, suggesting they might have to downgrade their earnings forecasts unless the Japanese currency weakens. The yen is currently hovering around 90 to the dollar. Bank shares lost ground as worries about the health of the sector resurfaced. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial dropped 5.4 percent to 456 yen. Exporters continued to be pressured by the yen. Toyota shed 1.7 percent to 3,510 yen and Sanyo Electric slid 7.5 percent to 197 yen. SYDNEY: Down 0.90 percent. The S&P/ASX200 fell 42.5 points to 4,701.1. BHP Billiton fell 53 cents to 37.20 dollars and Rio Tinto was down 34 cents at 58.90. Rising crude prices helped the energy sector, with Woodside Petroleum up 26 cents at 52.39 and Oil Search lifting five cents to 6.50. National Australia Bank dipped 39 cents to 30.37, Westpac weakened 34 cents to 25.91 and the Commonwealth backtracked 85 cents to 50.90. Telstra rose one cent to 3.28 and Singapore Telecom rose four cents to 2.63. SEOUL: Down 1.70 percent. The KOSPI ended down 28.51 points at 1,644.63. Major exporters lost ground due to the won's rise against the dollar. Investors were also wary that South Korea's industrial output, a leading indicator for the economy, may peak soon, he said. Among major exporters, auto-related and technology stocks declined sharply on fears the strong won may weaken their competitiveness. Hyundai Motor tumbled 8.1 percent to 102,500 won and Kia Motors slid 6.7 percent to 17,350. Samsung Electronics lost 2.8 percent to 792,000 won. Shipbuilders sank amid lingering concerns about possible order cancellations by French shipping line CMA CGM. The company reportedly plans to renegotiate and cancel orders awarded to South Korean shipbuilders. Hyundai Heavy Industries lost 2.5 percent to 175,500 won and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering dropped 4.7 percent to 16,400. Financial markets will be closed Friday for the Chuseok holiday. TAIPEI: Up 0.48 percent. The weighted index rose 36.12 points to 7,545.29. "The appreciation of the Taiwan dollar was the major factor to push up the market" led by assets plays and financials, said Young Wang of Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting. Far Eastern Textile, considered an asset play, rose 3.05 percent to 38.85 while the textile sector was 1.93 percent firmer. Fubon Financial gained 2.48 percent to 37.2. Financials finished 2.32 percent higher, cement rose 1.87 percent but construction was 0.30 percent lower. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co edged up 0.78 percent to 65.0. SINGAPORE: Down 0.57 percent. The Straits Times Index fell 15.13 points to 2,657.44. The market has priced in strong economic recovery and any data that disappoint is going to punctuate the uptrend, analysts said. Telecom operator StarHub was 14 cents lower at 2.03 dollars after losing the rights to host the highly popular English Premier League (EPL) football matches in Singapore to rival Singapore Telecommunications. Singapore Telecommunications rose three cents to 3.28 while Singapore Airlines fell 24 cents to 13.54 dollars. DBS Group Holdings sank 26 cents to 13.02. BANGKOK: Up 1.37 percent. The Stock Exchange of Thailand rose 9.84 points to close at 726.91. KUALA LUMPUR: Up 0.52 percent. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index gained 6.27 points to 1,208.35. Telecommunications company Axiata rose 1.6 percent to 3.15 ringgit while gaming giant Genting Malaysia climbed 1.1 percent to 2.77 ringgit. Budget carrier AirAsia was down 0.7 percent at 1.39 ringgit. JAKARTA: Up 0.4 percent. The Jakarta Composite Index rose 10.38 points to 2,477.97. MANILA: Up 1.0 percent. The composite index added 28.20 points to close at 2,829.02. "Investors are starting to accumulate stocks, but very selectively. They're still awaiting signs of the impact on the economy of the floods," Chelsea Dipasupil of RCBC Securities said. Storm Ketsana triggered the heaviest flooding in Manila in decades last Saturday, leaving 277 dead and affecting over 2.5 million people. Manila said it may also set back growth this year. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. added 1.7 percent to 2,450 pesos while Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. rose 1.3 percent to 39 pesos. WELLINGTON: Up 0.72 percent. The NZX-50 gained 22.79 points to 3,183.85. Fletcher Building has risen steadily since starting the week at 8.25 dollars and gained a further four cents to close at 8.52. A four cent rise by Contact Energy to 5.80 also boosted the market while Telecom was also up four cents to 2.70. Port of Tauranga closed seven cents ahead at 6.85 and Air New Zealand was up two cents to 1.23. MUMBAI: Flat. The 30-share Sensex edged up 7.71 points, or 0.05 percent, to 17,134.55, a 16-month high.

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