Asian stocks followed Wall Street higher on Tuesday after Chinese exports rose by double digits. Investors were looking ahead to U.S. earnings reports that are expected to show strong profits for major banks. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.2% to 3,556.27. The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo gained 0.5% to 28,720.09 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 1.9% to 28,027.48. The Kospi in Seoul advanced 0.7% to 3,269.43 and Sydney's S&P-ASX 200 was 0.2% higher at 7,348.20. India's Sensex opened up 0.5% at 52,626.80. New Zealand, Singapore and Bangkok gained while Jakarta retreated, the Associated Press reported. In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude rose 27 cents to $74.37 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 46 cents on Monday to $74.10. Brent crude, the price basis for international oils, added 22 cents to $75.38 per barrel in London. It 39 cents the previous session to $75.16 a barrel. The dollar gained to 110.43 yen from 110.34 yen. The euro advanced to $1.1865 from $1.1858.
