Keppel Corporation Limited

Wall Street's rallies overnight provided a positive lead to Asian markets on Wednesday. Dow and S&P 500 Tuesday surged to 18-month highs led by blue-chip industrial stocks. Nasdaq was also buoyed by signs of improved semiconductor market. Asian markets closed mixed on Tuesday. Energy shares in the region rose after the price of crude oil rebounded above US$81 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell nearly 0.5 per cent due to stronger yen against euro. China's Shanghai Composite lost 0.7 per cent. But South Korea's Kospi gained 0.6 per cent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advanced 0.3 per cent.

Yesterday Asian markets ended mixed. Japan's Nikkei index was 0.5 per cent lower due to profit-taking after the previous day's sharp gains. China's Shanghai Composite lost 0.9 per cent led by financials on concerns over banks' fundraising plans. Hong Kong shares, however, was pushed higher by property sector stocks.

U.S. stocks closed slightly lower on Tuesday, giving up early gains boosted by consumer confidence data and strong earnings from Apple. Investors remained cautious as there were continued concerns over bank regulation plans.