Asian markets in advance (AP) (20-09-2010)

BANGKOK (AP) – September 20, Asian stock markets were in advance following a week of holidays in Japan and other major regional markets.

The initial rise was triggered by better-than-expected earnings from technology leaders Oracle Corp. and Research in Motion Ltd. but a lower oil price and a decline in a measure of consumer confidence kept a lid on buying.

The Shanghai Composite Index was up 0.2 percent at 2,594.72 and South Korea's Kospi gained 0.3 percent to 1,832.63. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.2 percent to 22,007.78, while India's Sensex climbed 0.9 percent to 19,769.29 and Taiwan's index added 0.4 percent to 8,186.96.

Australia's S&P/ASX 200 dropped 0.2 percent to 4,631.30.

Standard & Poor's 500 index inched up 0.93, or 0.1 percent, to 1,125.59, and the Nasdaq composite rose 12.36, or 0.5 percent, to 2,315.61.

Benchmark crude for October delivery was up 2 cents at $73.68 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 91 cents to settle at $73.66 on Friday.

Japan's market was closed for a public holiday and will be closed for another holiday on Thursday, while markets in mainland China are closed Wednesday through Friday. Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines also have closures during the week.

Source: AP