Asia Markets Mostly Higher Tuesday     04/24 05:39

   Asian shares mostly rose Tuesday as a surge in U.S. bond yields pushed the 
value of the dollar higher against other major currencies.

   TOKYO (AP) -- Asian shares mostly rose Tuesday as a surge in U.S. bond 
yields pushed the value of the dollar higher against other major currencies.

   KEEPING SCORE: Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 gained 0.9 percent to finish at 
22,278.12, helped by the weaker yen. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.7 
percent to 5,924.60, and South Korea's Kospi lost 0.2 percent to 2,468.15. Hong 
Kong's Hang Seng added nearly 1.0 percent to 30,554.07, while the Shanghai 
Composite jumped 1.7 percent to 3,120.27, recouping losses from the previous 
day. Shares were mixed in Southeast Asia.

   WALL STREET: Shares yielded early gains to end nearly unchanged. The S&P 500 
index ended almost flat at 2,670.29. The Dow Jones industrial average fell less 
than 0.1 percent to 24,448.69. The Nasdaq composite gave up 0.2 percent to 
7,128.60. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks declined 0.1 
percent, to 1,562.12.

   U.S. BOND YIELDS: The yield on the 10-year Treasury note drew close to 3 
percent on Monday, a milestone it has not reached since January 2014. It 
touched 2.98 percent but by early Tuesday in Asia had fallen back to 2.96 
percent. The 10-year yield stood at 2.43 percent at the end of 2017. Since the 
global financial crisis in 2008-09, a combination of low inflation expectations 
and a bond-buying program by the Federal Reserve have helped keep bond yields 
low but they have climbed this year as inflation has picked up and the Federal 
Reserve raised interest rates. With the Fed no longer buying bonds and 
investors expecting greater inflation, analysts say higher yields could make 
bonds more attractive than stocks. They also make U.S. dollars relatively more 
attractive.

   THE QUOTE: "The U.S. dollar has put on a compelling show overnight as the 
stars align on the back of higher U.S. yields and a considerable reduction in 
the U.S. dollar's geopolitical risk premium as an outwardly calmer mood 
surrounding trade and geopolitical risk takes hold," Stephen Innes of OANDA 
said in a commentary.

   ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude oil gained 62 cents to $69.26 a barrel. It rose 
0.4 percent to $68.64 a barrel in New York the previous day. Brent crude, used 
to price international oils, gained 46 cents to $75.17 per barrel in London.

   CURRENCIES: The dollar rose to 108.82 yen from 108.71 yen. The euro fell to 
$1.2216 from $1.2233.


(BE)