Most of the Asian equity benchmarks are trading up in the early deals on Tuesday, after Chinese trade data minimized risk concerns generated by a continuing slide in crude oil prices, while the dollar fell to a one-month low against the safe-haven yen. Japan average fell 2.0 percent after a long weekend as declines in U.S. stocks and weakening oil prices dampened risk appetite, while a strong yen hurt exporters. Among other markets in the Asia-Pacific region, South Korea, Singapore is trading marginally lower. Shanghai, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia are up with modest gains.
Hang Seng jumped 128.48 points or 0.53% to 24,154.94, Jakarta Composite surged 9.17 points or 0.18% to 5,197.10, Shanghai Composite rose 8.51 points or 0.26% to 3,237.83, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI improved 6.80 points or 0.39% to 1,741.88 and Taiwan Weighted was up by 55.27 points or 0.58% to 9,231.73.
On the flip side, Nikkei 225 contracted 247.49 points or 1.44% to 16,950.24, Straits Times dipped 8.02 points or 0.27% to 3,335.96 and KOSPI Index was down 5.17 points or 0.27% to 1,915.78.