Market Report - Asia Shares Gain

WONG:
In todays market report Asian shares are up with Japan's benchmark Nikkei supported by banks as well as exporters, cheered by a slightly weaker yen.

Barclays joined Citigroup, JPMorgan and Bank of America in saying it had a strong start to the year, boosting regional financial shares.

Electronics giant Hitachi gained after tapping a power business veteran as its new CEO, saying it would split-off ailing units as it restructures.

Toyota rose after the company's plan to cut the price of its current generation Prius hybrid car by 19 percent, matching rival Honda's hot-selling hybrid Insight.

In Seoul, continued strength in the won currency boosted banks, as worries about a March dollar liquidity crisis waned.

Resource stocks in Shanghai rose on a global surge in copper and energy prices, while real estate and banking stocks firmed on hopes the central bank may soon cut bank reserve ratios.

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News & Politics

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• Nikkei
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• Barclays
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