Asian markets forged higher Tuesday after another day of gains on Wall Street led by technology stocks.
U.S. futures were nearly flat and oil prices edged higher.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225, reopening after a national holiday, jumped 1.6% to 38,835.10. The advance was led by semiconductor companies like Tokyo Electron, which closed 4.8% higher, and Advantest, which picked up 2.2%.
The Kospi in South Korea surged 2.1% to 2,731.83, helped by big tech companies like Samsung Electronics, which racked up a 4.5% gain, and smaller rival SK Hynix, which added 3.7%.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shed 0.5% to 18,470.90. But the Shanghai Composite index recovered from early losses, gaining 0.3% to 3,148.56.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 1.3% to 7,781.70 after the central bank decided to keep interest rates unchanged at 4.35%.
While the Reserve Bank of Australia has likely set the bar high for any rate hikes, it “will probably need to see several more months of soft data before it is confident that it can loosen policy settings. All told, rate cuts will likely take longer to materialize than most are anticipating,” Abhijit Surya of Capital Economics said in a commentary.
No positive progress in Gaza truce talks: Hamas source
Chinese FM meets with Vietnamese counterpart
Chinese premier meets French FM in Beijing
Hockey business is booming as the NHL bounces back from the pandemic in a big way
The FAA investigates after Boeing says workers in South Carolina falsified 787 inspection records
North Korea is buying Chinese surveillance cameras in a push to tighten control, report says
Malta's new president takes office
China reveals cases highlighting ecological security threats
Happy birthday Archie! As the young royal turns five today
Tax Day shows stark divide between Biden and Trump
Chad holds presidential election after years of military rule
EU, G7 leaders urge preventing escalation in Mideast