Stock Markets Closed Friday

Stock and most commodity markets were closed Friday in the United States and many other countries in observance of Good Friday. U.S. bond markets close at noon and some commodity markets will hold abbreviated morning sessions.

Government offices and most banks are scheduled to be open Friday.

In Tokyo shares finished mixed Friday, with brisk buying in blue chips and profit-taking in other issues.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average shed 37.37 points, or 0.23 percent, closing the week at 16,290.19 points. On Thursday, the average advanced 490.97 points, or 3.1 percent.

On the stock market, export-oriented blue chips were among Friday's gainers, while some investors took profits by selling issues of other companies, including banks and telecommunications, which have recently led the market.

"The market is taking a break from Thursday," said Sachio Ishikawa, general manager of the stock division at Chuo Securities.

Prices were also hurt by lethargic trade as many foreign investors were away for the Easter holidays and because dealers remained reluctant to take positions before Monday's announcement of the Bank of Japan's quarterly "tankan" survey of business sentiment.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average closed at 9,832.51 points Thursday, up 46.35.