Samsung SDI Co., Ltd

South Korea's Samsung SDI Co Ltd (SEO:006400) on Tuesday reported a 72 per cent hike in first quarter operating profit to 64.6 billion won, compared with a 37.5 billion profit a year earlier. This is largely due to its solid performance across all businesses, including rechargeable battery and plasma-display-panel segments.

US market was closed yesterday for public holiday. European shares gained on the back of higher commodity prices overnight. Asian markets ended mixed on Monday while traders are awaiting US corporate earnings. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 1.2%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped 0.9%, China's Shanghai Composite rose 0.4%, South Korea's Kospi gained 0.6% and Taiwan's Taiex slipped 0.2%.