Sydney - The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on Tuesday cut interest rates by 0.75 per cent to 5.25 per cent in response to a raft of figures showing the economy slowing in the wake of the global financial crisis.

It was the RBA's third monthly cut in the rate it charges banks for borrowing, a reversal of a trend that had seen 12 consecutive rises in the cash rate since May 2002.

The further easing of monetary policy came despite inflation being above the RBA's 3-per-cent target. The central bank now sees a recession as more of a threat than inflation.

Tokyo - Tokyo stocks ended morning trading higher Tuesday as investor confidence was regained on a series of economic stimulus packages and the Asian stock market's advance the previous day.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 320.89 points, or 3.74 per cent, to 8,897.87. The index had lost 5 per cent Friday. The Tokyo market was closed Monday for a national holiday.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues gained 28.83 points, or 3.19 per cent, to 895.95.

New Delhi - India's benchmark Sensitive Index jumped 585 points Monday, buoyed by weekend interest rate cuts announced by the country's central bank.

The 30-share Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange closed at 10337.68, 5.62 per cent above its previous close.

The broader 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange rose 5.48 per cent to 3,043.85.

Singapore - Singapore stocks rose 4.99 per cent Monday as investors went bargain hunting, but analysts warned of continuing volatility ahead.

The Straits Times Index rose 89.55 points to 1,883.75.

Gainers outnumbered losers by 422 to 125, and volume was high with 1.64 billion shares traded.

The market is recovering from oversold positions, said Stephanie Wong, head of research at Kim Eng Securities Pte Ltd in Singapore.