World stock markets mixed of US earnings

Most Asian stock markets advanced Tuesday, with Tokyo and Hong Kong indexes gaining almost 1 percent, as investors looked to earnings reports from major U. S. companies for insight about the economy. European markets fell.

Japan ' s Nikkei 225 stock average added 60. 17 points, or 0. 6 percent, to 10, 076. 56, while Hong Kong ' s Hang Seng rose 168. 01 points, or 0. 8 percent, to 21, 467. 36.

Shanghai ' s benchmark was up 1. 4 percent, Australia ' s index gained 1 percent and Indonesia ' s market was higher by 0. 3 percent.

Meanwhile, South Korea ' s Kospi lost 0. 7 percent and Taiwan ' s market traded flat and Singapore ' s index shed 0. 3 percent.

Also helping sentiment was a modest advance on Wall Street that pushed the Dow Jones index to a new trading high for 2009.

The Dow closed up 20. 86, or 0. 2 percent, at 9, 885. 80. The Standard & Poor ' s 500 index rose 4. 70, or 0. 4 percent, to 1, 076. 19. Both indexes had their highest close in a year.

Oil prices rose in Asian trade, with benchmark crude for November delivery adding 50 cents to $73. 77. The contract rose $1. 50 overnight.

The dollar edged up to 90. 02 from 89. 80. The euro was lower at $1. 4773 from $1. 4778.