Most Asian Markets Gain On Wall Street Lead

Hong Kong stocks ended on Tuesday with another gain, tracking a healthy lead from Wall Street on optimism over the US economy.

The Hang Seng Index rose 0.3 percent, to 31,093.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.7 percent, to 3,114, and the Shenzhen Composite Index jumped 1.7 percent, to 1,777.

In Japan, the yen edged lower against the US dollar, boosting Japanese exporters. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.3 percent, to close at 22,539.

Seoul and Singapore were each 0.3 percent higher, while Wellington, Manila and Jakarta also rose. But Sydney slipped 0.5 percent, while Taipei and Bangkok dropped.

On currency markets, the greenback extended gains against the yen thanks to bets on US borrowing costs rising this year.

The euro was also holding up on relief that last week's political turmoil in Italy had subsided, though there are still some concerns about what sort of policies the new, populist-led government will implement. (AFP)