Amsterdam - The main AEX index on the Amsterdam stock exchange opened at this year's absolute low of 231.09 Thursday, down 2.9 per cent from the previous day's closing figure.

The previous low of 231.50 was reached in October.

By 9:30 am (0830 GMT), the AEX demonstrated little change and stood at 231.53, a loss of 2.77 per cent compared to closing time Wednesday, when the AEX had lost 5 per cent.

Seoul - Shares crashed Thursday on the Seoul sto

New Delhi - India's benchmark Sensex fell by 4.84 per cent in early trade on Thursday, extending its losses for the seventh straight session on heavy selling by funds and investors tracking weak global cues.

The 30-share-sensitive index of the Bombay Stock Exchange which has lost over 1,750 points over the last six sessions, fell by another 424.56 points to 8,349.22 after 90 minutes of trading up to 11:40 am (0610GMT).

Tokyo - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average plummeted nearly 7 per cent, below the 8,000 level, Thursday as investors' concerns mounted over the US economy, particularly the Big Three automakers' financial fate.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average tumbled 570.18 points, or 6.89 per cent, to close at 7,703.04.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues also fell 45.15 points, or 5.46 per cent, to 782.28.

Manila  - Philippine share prices plunged 3.45 per cent on Thursday, dragged down by Wall Street's overnight losses as investors braced for a prolonged economic slump.

The 30-share composite of the Philippine Stock Exchange lost 65.85 points to close at 1,842.33 from Wednesday's finish of 1,908.18.

A total 552.06 million shares worth 1.38 billion pesos (28.16 million dollars) were traded.

Losers led gainers 96 to 12, while 22 issues were unchanged.