Kia Motors Corporation

Wall Street overnight gained for an eighth consecutive session with a low trading volume. Thursday US weekly jobless claims data and core consumer prices in February provided mild support for the market. Most Asian markets declined yesterday. Japanese exporters were hurt by the weakness in euro against yen. Nikkei 225 lost nearly 1.0 per cent, and South Korea's Kospi dropped 0.5 per cent. Hong Kong and mainland China markets gave up their early gains to close lower on Thursday on renewed fears that China might take further measure to control the pace of bank lending. Shanghai composite closed down 0.14 percent, while Hang Seng Index fell 0.25 percent.

Asian share markets continue a winning streak on Thursday following the good leads from Wall Street. Japan's Nikkei stock index rose in early trade as exporters were lifted by confidence in global recovery. Korean central bank decided to keep rates unchanged at a record-low 2 per cent.

Kia Motors (SEO:000270), South Korea's second-largest automaker, said second-quarter net profit more than quadrupled as weakness in the local currency boosted sales revenue.

Asian markets Friday opened mixed. Japan's Nikkei traded lower in the morning, but the Japanese financial stocks surged after the rise on Wall Street overnight. Hong Kong opened flat as investors were cautious ahead of the earnings reports.

Asian major markets opened mixed on Thursday. South Korea's KOSPI and Hong Kong' Hang Seng Index were up in the morning, while Tokyo stocks traded lower, struggling between good and bad news.

Today most Asian markets traded lower in the morning despite a positive lead from Wall Street. Tokyo stocks fell on the rising Yen, while South Korean investors sold shares to lock in profits from recent rallies. Hong Kong's Heng Seng Index opened lower, but soon rebounded following the surge in mainland China's Shanghai Composite.

All major indices in Asia opened significantly higher as the US government's plan on bad debts fires up investors' sentiment. Some markets rose 3% or more on Monday and extended their strong rising streak today with financial stocks react the most.

Asian markets ended higher on Wednesday. Tokyo stocks jumped 2.7% as yen's weakness boosted the Japanese exporters. South Korea and China markets delivered a modest rise of 0.3% each. Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 1.6%.

Asian shares are set to gain on Monday after a rally on Wall Street last Friday. Japan's Nikkei average is also expected to be buoyed by exporters on a weaker yen. Asian shares rallied across the region Friday with shipping stocks leading for another day and miners rising on hopes that demand for commodities might be picking up. The Shanghai Composite Index rallied 4%, delivering its best performance of the week while China-related shares also lifted the market in Hong Kong.

Asian markets are expected to drop after the plummet on Wall St. On Friday Japan's Nikkei stock average lost 3.1 per cent, sliding on economic woes and a tumble by Toshiba Corp after it was hit by news it may merge part of its chip operations, a loss forecast, and a ratings cut. The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 123.78 points, or 0.94 per cent, at 13,278.21. The Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges open today after the week-long Chinese New Year holidays.