Asian shares up, Nikkei falls on new atomic fears

HONG KONG: Asian stock markets were mostly higher on Tuesday, but Tokyo fell for a second straight day as fresh concerns emerged over a meltdown at Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Jitters among already cautious traders were made worse when it emerged late Monday that plutonium had been detected in soil at the plant while highly contaminated water has leaked from a reactor, fanning environmental fears.

Hidehiko Nishiyama, a spokesman for Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, said the detection of plutonium suggested "certain damage to fuel rods", in comments carried by Kyodo News.

However, the Nikkei, which had fallen 1.47 percent in the morning, bounced back in the afternoon session as worries about the plant eased and dealers bought on upbeat jobs data and renewed optimism about the US economy.

The index ended the day just 0.21 percent, or 19.45 points, lower at 9,459.08.

Sydney added 0.47 percent, or 22.2 points, to end at 4,755.8 and Seoul gained 0.77 percent, or 15.74 points, to 2,072.13.

Hong Kong gained 0.14 percent in the afternoon and Shanghai rose 0.29 percent.

Radiation worries have disrupted efforts to restart the cooling systems of the Fukushima No.1 plant, which was battered by a huge earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

Shares in Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), which operates the plant, tumbled 18.67 percent to stand at less than a third of their value before the crisis.

TEPCO shares were also hit by a report that the government was considering temporarily nationalising it to help the utility's corporate reconstruction.

"Investors are starting to price in the worst-case scenario" including the possible delisting of TEPCO's shares, Hideyuki Ishiguro, a strategist at Okasan Securities, told Dow Jones Newswires.

However, in some good news for the Japanese economy data showed unemployment unexpectedly fell in February to a two-year low of 4.6 percent, from 4.9 percent in January. The jobless rate is at its lowest since February 2009, when it stood at 4.5 percent.

Regional investors were also given support by confidence in the US economy after fourth quarter growth in the world's biggest economy was revised up to 3.1 percent from the previous estimate of 2.8 percent.

That came as a senior Fed official said its monetary policy should be tightened soon, adding to the belief that recovery is on track.

Eyes are also on key government payrolls figures to be released in Washington on Friday.

On currency markets the dollar fetched 81.60 yen in afternoon Asian trade, down from 81.69 yen in New York late Monday while the euro edged up to 115.27 yen, from 115.22 yen.

The euro changed hands at $1.4123, up from $1.4089 Monday.

Crude prices dipped as Libyan rebels, emboldened by Western air strikes, marched on dictator Moamer Kadhafi's home city of Sirte, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in May dipped 11 cents to $103.87 per barrel and Brent North Sea crude for May delivery lost 23 cents to $114.57.

A stronger greenback makes dollar-denominated commodities more expensive for those using other currencies.

Gold opened at $1,418.00-$1,419.00 an ounce in Hong Kong, unchanged from Monday's close.

In other markets:

-- Taipei added 0.51 percent, or 43.51 points, to end at 8,596.57.

Taiwan Cement closed 4.41 percent higher at Tw$35.5 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co dipped 0.28 percent at Tw$70.8.

-- Manila fell 0.17 percent, or 6.75 points, to 3,907.23.

SM Investments dropped 1.7 percent to 510 pesos but Metropolitan Bank & Trust gained 1.1 percent to 63.90 and Philippine Long Distance Telephone was unchanged at 2,036.

-- Wellington advanced 0.39 percent, or 13.14 points, to 3,421.19.

Telecom rose 1.5 percent to NZ$2.02, Sky City gained 0.9 percent to NZ$3.36 and Air New Zealand added 0.9 percent to NZ$1.11. Fletcher Building fell 0.8 percent to NZ$9.17.