Market Update
Stocks in Asia ended mostly higher as crude-oil futures dropped for the third day, after political-unrest concerns from Mid-East subsided.
At close, Japan's Nikkei, China's Shanghai Composite, Hong Kong's Hang Seng and India's Sensex climbed 0.1% to 0.6%. Australia's ASX, however, closed 0.8% lower after its consumer confidence was shown dipping.
A weaker yen helped equities in the region, Japanese exporters in particular.
Stocks on the Move
In Tokyo, export-focused auto stocks were the highest gainers. Toyota gained 0.4% on reports it was targeting a 1 trillion yen operating profit in two-three years.
In Hong Kong, stocks witnessed a broad-based rise with China banks outperforming the markets.
China Construction Bank added 1.7%, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China climbed 1.3% while China Merchants Bank rose 1.5%.
Indian stocks were led higher by auto stocks such as Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra & Mahindra, which advanced 0.8% and 0.6%, respectively.
But oil stocks slipped on reports, which said the government would not allow oil retailers to raise fuel prices in the near future in an effort to combat inflation.
In Sydney, miners pressured the index with BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto declining 1.3% and 1.8%, respectively.
Financials ended mildly lower with National Australia Bank climbing down 0.8%.