Asian And US markets

Asian Markets:

Asian markets are trading higher, Japan's Nikkei surged 1.53% or 264.60 points at 17,508.65, Hong Kong's Heng Seng gained 0.79% or 158.82 points at 20,161.52, Taiwan's Taiwan Weighted advanced 0.68% or 53.63 points at 7,986.54, Singapore's Straits Times rose 0.80% or 26.44 points at 3,314.80 and South Korea's Seoul Composite was up 1.14% or 16.71 points at 1,480.46.

US Market:

The Dow rose 128 points, or 1.03%, to 12,510.30 -- its highest close since Feb. 26, the day before it made its 416-point plunge. The blue chip index is back in positive territory for the year, and 276 points below its record close of 12,786.64, reached Feb. 20.