Asian markets climb as China's exports improve notes Richard Gordon CEO of Captrust International

Richard Gordon CEO and Chairman at Captrust International in Singapore stated Friday Asian markets advanced as a fall in the yen boosted Japanese stocks and a big improvement in China's exports pointed to rising global demand that could lift other economies in the trade-reliant region Benchmarks in Tokyo and Hong Kong led Asia's gains, snapping a string of losses that had reflected worries about shaky government finances in the West and a tepid economic recovery in the U.S.
Oil prices lingered near $71 a barrel while the dollar jumped against the yen.

Providing reassurance for investors in Asia was news that China's November exports fell 1.2 percent from a year earlier in the smallest decline this year, as nascent recoveries in the U.S. and other big markets helped revive demand. It was a dramatic improvement from October when exports slid 13.8 percent.
Strong gains in Chinese industrial output and retail sales for the month also underlined that the recovery in the world's third-biggest economy is gathering momentum.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average jumped 229.95, or 2.3 percent, to 10,092.77 on gains in exporting stocks like Toyota Motor Corp. and Sony Corp., which benefit from a weaker yen as it makes their products more competitive overseas.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng climbed 363.77, or 1.7 percent, to 22,063.81 and South Korea's Kospi was up 8.74, or 0.5 percent, to 1,660.71.

Elsewhere, Australia's benchmark gained 0.6 percent, China's Shanghai index was up 0.4 percent, and Singapore's market advanced 0.6 percent.

In the U.S. on Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 66.78, or 0.7 percent, to 10,405.83 after a jump in exports offset concerns about an increase in unemployment claims.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 6.40, or 0.6 percent, to 1,102.35, while the Nasdaq composite index rose 7.13, or 0.3 percent, to 2,190.86.
Oil prices hovered near $71 a barrel in Asia as a warm winter and tepid recovery in the U.S. undermined demand for crude products like diesel and heating oil.
Benchmark crude for January delivery was up 43 cents to $70.97 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Thursday, the contract fell as low as $69.81 before settling down 13 cents at $70.54.

In currencies, the dollar rose to 88.80 yen from 88.26 yen. The euro was little changed at $1.4733 from $1.4732.