Seoul - Shares surged more than 2 per cent Tuesday on the Seoul stock exchange led by construction and bank stocks that are expected to benefit from recent government measures to stimulate the econ

Seoul - Shares surged more than 2 per cent Tuesday on the Seoul stock exchange led by construction and bank stocks that are expected to benefit from recent government measures to stimulate the econ

Tokyo - Tokyo stocks ended Tuesday trading higher with the benchmark Nikkei index rising above 9,000 level as the market confidence was regained on a series of economic stimulus packages and the Asian stock market's advance the previous day.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average surged 537.62 points, or 6.27 per cent, to close at 9,114.6. 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 also gained 43.58 points, or 5.02 per cent, to 910.7.

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.