- Maine Caucuses a Chance to Right the Romney Ship
- Greek Debt Saga Back on Center Stage for Markets
- Greece Now Struggles to Overcome Mistrust
- Obama Budget Bets Other Concerns Will Trump the Deficit
- China President-in-Waiting to Sample Slices of America
- MF Global Trustee Sees Shortfall of $1.6 Billion
- Iran to Announce 'Very Important' Nuclear Progress
- Traveling Light in a Time of Digital Thievery
- UK Police Arrest Five at Murdoch's Sun Newspaper
- In Search of America's ‘Hottest Forecasters’
- Dow vs. S&P 500: Which is a Better Investment?
- Mick Fleetwood on the MP3 ‘Dumbing Down’ of Music
- Avis on the Road to Strong Growth: Analyst
- Private Homebuilders: Dead Men Walking
- LinkedIn’s Growth Is Already Priced In: Analyst
- The Real Reason Behind Bank of America’s Rally
- 5 Hedge Funds’ Top Stocks Soar After 2011 Rout
- This Valentine’s Day Love Is Served on a Silver Platter
MOST POPULAR
HOT ON FACEBOOK
Asian Stocks Rise, Japan and South Korea Gain Over 1%
Text Size 
Asian stocks were mostly stronger this Good Friday, following gains on Wall Street. Japan and South Korea both finished over 1 percent higher. Markets in Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and Singapore are closed for the Good Friday holiday.
Gold and oil fell sharply as investors dumped commodities and lifted U.S. stocks to big gains on the view that inflation could moderate if the selling pressure in futures markets continues. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied more than 2 percent as crude's fall helped relieve worries about the effect of higher prices on consumers and businesses.
 |
South Korea's KOSPI closed up 1.3 percent, led by financials, as receding worries over a credit crunch and a slide in commodities prices stoked investors' appetite for stocks, with foreigners fueling upward momentum. Financials including banks and brokerage shares rose across the board, with Kookmin Bank and Shinhan Financial both advancing.
Taiwan stocks rose 2.2 percent to a two-week closing high, led by Cathay Financial and other financial firms with better earnings prospects, one day before the island's presidential election.
Chinese stocks were mixed with the Shanghai Composite Index bouncing in and out of negative territory, hit by a selloff in heavily weighted PetroChina amid disappointment at the absence of fresh government efforts to support the market. PetroChina tumbled 4 percent. The pull-back of global oil prices may have been partly responsible, traders said, but many said bigger factors were the stock's valuations and the possibility of a slowdown in China's economy.
- Marketing clichés aside, sometimes diamonds are for investing.
- The ‘Fast Money’ traders weigh in on fashion related stocks from apparel to footwear.
- This list of the 10 most active cities for speed traps was compiled by Trapster.com. See if your town is there.
- This Valentine’s Day should prove a love fest for restaurants, as many couples will be dining out.
- Here’s a look at Westminster Kennel Club’s most successful breeds—and how much they cost.
- What kind of homes do celebrity couples share? Here’s our updated list. Take a look.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
