Several Asian stock indexes set new records Tuesday, led by Hong Kong's Hang Seng, which climbed sharply as China-related stocks resumed trading after an extended weekend.
In Tokyo, Nikkei 225 index rose just 0.02% at 18,149.90 while in Hong Kong, the blue chip Hang Seng Index finished 1.7% higher at 22,151.14.
Gainers included oil refiners, whose shares rose following the spike in oil futures above $71 per barrel in U.S. trading Monday. Cosmo Oil Co. rose 3.08 percent to 669 yen ($5.48).
Among brokerages, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. added 3.76 percent to 1,352 yen ($11.08).
ELSEWHERE:
SEOUL: South Korea's Kospi advanced 1.9% to 1,805.50.
SHANGHAI: China's Shanghai Composite climbed 1.7% to 3,899.72.
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Straits Times index added 0.6% at 3,570.
TAIPEI: Taiwan's Weighted index closed 0.6% up at 8,996.20.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's NZX 50 ended up 0.1% at 4,233.74.
SYDNEY: Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.6% to 6,299.
With files from wire services
