Asia's Markets Gain Ground

Stocks were mainly higher in Europe Tuesday, but broad equity measures in Austria, Greece and Iceland were laggards.

London's FTSE 100 was up 0.5% at 6346, and Frankfurt's Xetra DAX was fractionally better at 6876. The Paris CAC 40 slipped 0.1% to 5676, while Milan's MIB 30 gave up 0.1%.

The Prague Stock Exchange Index, rising 1.4% to 1718, and Estonia's OMX Tallinn Index, up 1.7% to 1043, were the outperformers of the day.

Most of Asia's markets were stronger, but the Jakarta Composite Index surrendered 0.4% and India's BSE Sensex fell 0.3%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1% to 20,655, and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 was ahead by 0.4% at 17,407.

China, Taiwan and South Korea closed to the upside.

In other markets, Brazil's Bovespa Stock Index lost 0.3% to 45,149, and Mexico's Bolsa was edging up 0.2% to 27,988.