Amman- Arab stock markets rebounded this week after the year- end holiday, but financial analysts said Friday that the rally could be short-lived when annual results of listed firms start to come out.

"I believe the rebound was in response to improving performance on world markets and the jump in oil prices that accompanied the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip," an Amman-based portfolio manager told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Despite easing inflationary figures, the Sensex continued to move in a sluggish manner.

Metal, realty and consumer goods traded weak, whereas IT, auto and FMCG stocks went up.

BSE Midcap and Smallcap index declined 2.73% and 3.05% respectively.

Among the sectoral indices, BSE Metal declined 6.88%, BSE Realty fell 5.17%, BSE Consumer goods lost more than 4%. But, BSE IT zoomed 2.60%, Auto and FMCG gained more than 1% each.

The 30-share index, BSE Sensex, today (Jan 09), opened on a lower note at 9,434.85, down 152.03 points.

Tokyo  - Stocks ended lower Friday in Tokyo as anxiety over the economy returned ahead of US job data.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average declined 39.62 points, or 0.45 per cent, to close at 8,836.8.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues was also down 5.87 points, or 0.68 per cent, to 855.02.

On the currency markets at midday (0300 GMT), the dollar traded at 91.20-25 yen, down from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 91.76-77 yen.

After witnessing a heavy fall of over 700 points on Wednesday (Jan 07), Indian equities, today (Jan 09), opened on a lower note at 9,434.85, down 152.03 points.

Consumer goods and realty stocks have taken a severe beating.

Hammered by the worst ever company scam in India, shares of Satyam Computer Services (at 10:00 a.m.) stood at Rs 13.50, down Rs 26.45 at the BSE. The scrip also touched an intra-day high of Rs 32.00 and low of Rs 11.50. On Wednesday (Jan 07), the shares declined 77.69 at Rs 39.95.

Tokyo - Stocks gave up early gains to end Friday's morning session lower in Tokyo as anxiety over the economy returned ahead of US job data.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average dipped 83.7 points, or 0.94 per cent, to 8,792.72.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues was also down 11.1 points, or 1.29 per cent, to 849.79.

On the currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 91.35-40 yen, down from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 91.76-77 yen.

The New York Stock Exchange has stopped dealing with Satyam Computer Services after revelation of large scale financial misdoing in its business conduct. Shares of beleaguered Satyam Computer Services were not traded at NYSE as per the report from stock exchange.

The regulation officer at exchange said, "NYSE regulation is currently evaluating the news relating to Satyam and will continue to closely monitor further developments. Trading was halted prior to the opening of the market. The security will remain halted until further notice."