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Japan's Nikkei leads Asian gains on US market lead Japan's Nikkei hits one-month high
(about 7 hours later)
Japanese shares led Asian markets into positive territory, taking the cue from Wall Street where US shares made gains. Japan's Nikkei share index rose sharply on Tuesday, helped by a weaker yen and by the calm reaction in US and European markets to the Greek election result.
The Dow Jones rose 0.03% to 17,678.7, while the S&P 500 gained 0.3% to 2,057.09 as a blizzard bared down on the Northeast region of the US. Asia took its cue from Wall Street, where shares reversed early falls to end the day slightly higher.
In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 was up 1.5% to 17,734.81 after closing lower on Monday on the anti-austerity Syriza party win in Greece. In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 closed up 1.7% at 17,768.3 - its highest close since late December.
The dollar firmed against the yen at 118.5 from Monday's low of 117.26. The dollar firmed against the yen to 118.20 from Monday's low of 117.26.
Shares of Toyota were up 1.2% after a local report that the automaker will change the way it pays factory workers, focusing on their performance rather than their seniority. Toyota's shares rose 1.2% after a local report that the carmaker will change the way it pays factory workers, focusing on their performance rather than their seniority.
China bucks trend China profits weak
Chinese shares bucked the region's uptrend to trade lower with the Shanghai Composite down 0.1% to 3,379.87. Shares in China fell after data showed that factory profits grew at their weakest rate in two years in 2014.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index was lower 0.2% to 24,871.83 after a five-day rally. Profits for large Chinese industrial companies rose 3.3% last year from 2013, while profits shrank 8% in December - the worst performance in at least a year.
The Shanghai Composite dropped 0.7% to 3,358.82, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 0.4% to 24,805.95.
Australian shares were higher after being closed for a public holiday on Monday.Australian shares were higher after being closed for a public holiday on Monday.
The S&P/ASX 200 was up 0.7% to 5,539.1 points. The S&P/ASX 200 closed up 0.8% at 5,547.2, despite a measure of business conditions falling further in December as earnings and employment softened.
In South Korea, shares were boosted by a central bank survey which showed that consumer sentiment had improved for the first time in four months in January. National Australia Bank's monthly survey showed its index of business conditions eased to below its long-run average.
The Bank of Korea's consumer sentiment index, ticked up to 102 from a revised 101 in December. In South Korea, shares were boosted by a central bank survey which showed that consumer sentiment had improved in January for the first time in four months.
A reading above 100 indicates that consumers who expect economic conditions to improve outnumber those expecting deterioration. The Bank of Korea's consumer sentiment index ticked up to 102 from a revised 101 in December.
The benchmark Kospi index was up 0.5% to 1,945.04. A reading above 100 indicates that consumers who expect economic conditions to improve outnumber those expecting them to worsen.
The benchmark Kospi index finished up 0.9% at 1,952.4, a one-month high.