Overseas markets

Monday, March 24, 2008

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Asian markets advanced Tuesday, with Japanese shares spurred by exporters such as Honda Motor Co. on a weakened yen, as well as overnight gains on Wall Street. Australian shares rallied after an extended holiday weekend.
n Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 Average climbed 1.3% to 12,636.69 and the broader Topix index advanced 1.2% to 1,238.62.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 soared 3.6% to 5,311.50, as trading resumed for the first time since Thursday. South Korea's Kospi gained 1.1% to 1,673.04 and New Zealand's NZX 50 index gained 0.7% to 3,449.33.
Exporters lifted Japanese shares after the U.S. dollar climbed above the 100-yen mark, with Honda Motor

in currency trading, the U.S. dollar was quoted at 100.68 yen compared with 99.88 yen late Monday in Asia and 100.69 yen late Monday in New York.
Crude oil for May delivery dropped below $100 a barrel in electronic trading after declining 98 cents to $100.86 Monday on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The front-month contract was recently $1.01 lower at $99.85.