Global Stocks Mostly Higher; Europe Rises

HONG KONG -- World stock markets were mostly higher Tuesday, helped by an overnight rise on Wall Street after the passage of a sweeping U.S. health care measure.

Major markets gained by 1% or less, reversing course after declines the day before. The dollar was up modestly against the euro and the yen, while oil prices held above $81.

Sentiment was buoyed by another advance on Wall Street, where investors seemed relieved after U.S. lawmakers ended months of uncertainty and passed major health legislation that would extend benefits to millions and have a wide-ranging effect on companies.

Asian and European stocks lost ground on Monday as more questions about Greece's ability to resolve its debt crisis dogged investors. Though Germany's chancellor said over the weekend a bailout wouldn't be up for negotiation at a European summit this week, other regional leaders suggested a deal that might include help from the International Monetary Fund was in the works.

In Europe Tuesday, France's CAC-40 rose 0.7% and Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.8%. Germany's DAX was up 0.7%.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 stock average fell 50.57 points, or 0.5%, 10,774.15, bucking the broader move higher as it caught up with losses from the previous session.

Hong Kong's market added 54.53, or 0.3%.

Premarket futures suggested U.S. stocks would open higher Tuesday.

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