Nikkei Hits Multiyear High

Asia's shares were generally stronger overnight, including a performance by Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei 225 that put the index above 18,000 for the first time since 2000.

The Nikkei rose 196 points, or 1.1%, to finish at 18,109. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong advanced 0.8% to 20,809.

Elsewhere, South Korea's Kospi climbed nearly 1% to 1465. On the losing side, Singapore's Straits Times Index slipped 0.1% to 3289, and India's BSE Sensex gave up 1.2% to 14,021.

Much of Europe was also higher. London's FTSE 100 added 0.4% to 6381, and Frankfurt's Xetra DAX was up 0.5% at 6974. The Paris CAC 40 was better by 0.2% at 5708, and the Swiss Market Index tacked on 0.5% to 9252.

Italy's MIB 30 Index was ahead by 0.5% to 42,435. The Zagreb Crobex in Croatia was unchanged at 3938.

Among Latin America's exchanges, Mexico's Bolsa lost 0.6% to 28,541, while Brazil's Bovespa climbed 0.8% to 46,452.