HONG KONG - Asian stock markets gained more ground yesterday, after Wall Street's advance as an upbeat United States manufacturing report buoyed investor confidence. Most major markets were higher, while the dollar fell against the yen and the euro. Crude oil prices closed at US$82 a barrel. Wall Street opened 2010 with strong gains amid optimism about the country's economic recovery after a report showed demand at American factories was increasing. The Institute for Supply Management's index of manufacturing activity rose to 55.9 from 53.6 in November, a bigger improvement than analysts predicted. The news boosted exporters across Asia, combining with stronger commodity prices to fuel hopes the pickup in global demand and economic activity was sustainable. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock average added 101.63 points, or 1 per cent, to 10,756.42, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 334.76, or 1.5 per cent, to 22,157.96. Shanghai's main stock measure climbed 0.5 per cent to 3258.72. In South Korea, the Kospi was little changed at 1694.89. In the US, the Dow industrials rose 155.91, or 1.5 per cent, to 10,583.96. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 17.89, or 1.6 per cent, to 1132.99, while the Nasdaq composite index rose 39.27, or 1.7 per cent, to 2308.42. Oil prices extended gains, with benchmark crude for February delivery up 31c at US$81.82 a barrel. The contract jumped US$2.15. In currencies, the dollar slipped to 92.17 yen from 92.42 yen. The euro rose to US$1.4420 from US$1.4407.

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