Market Update
Shares in Asia ended mostly higher, following a jump in China's trade surplus, according to data released Tuesday, and after a firm close on Wall Street overnight.
At close, Japan's Nikkei and China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.2% and 0.6% while Hong Kong markets remained closed due to a national holiday. India's Sensex gave up gains to end 0.1% lower. Across the region, Australia's ASX slipped 0.6%.
A weaker yen boosted Japanese exporter stocks while in China, a stronger-than-expected trade data set the tone for equities, even as investors braced for release of inflation data ahead.
Stocks on the Move
In Tokyo, Toyota gained 1.7% while Sony added 0.3%. Toshiba jumped 3.7% following its earnings announcement.
The Chinese index was helped by gains in resource stocks: Aluminum Corporation of China rose 1.2%, PetroChina advanced 0.5% while China Coal Energy Company climbed 1%.
Indian stocks swung toward either sides of the dotted line and ended slightly lower: losses in metals and energy shares were offset by buying in defensive consumer stocks. Telecom giant Bharti Airtel gained 0.3% while Tata Motors rose 0.7%.
In Sydney, a late bout of selling in financials brought the index down: National Australia Bank, ANZ Bank and Westpac Banking Group were off 0.7% to 1.9%.