HONG KONG: Asia's markets mostly rose yesterday, extending a recent rally, with a weaker yen boosting Tokyo while investors await the release of key United States data and this week the Federal Reserve's policy meeting.

The US and Europe's imposition of fresh sanctions on Russia left Wall Street in negative territory, while the euro struggled at eight-month lows against the dollar, owing to concerns about the impact of the measures on the eurozone economy.

Tokyo rose 0.18 per cent, or 28.16 points, to a six-month high of 15,646.23, Sydney added 0.62 per cent, or 34.46 points, to close at 5,622.9 and Seoul climbed one per cent, or 20.64 points, to 2,082.61.

Shanghai ended marginally lower, dipping 1.95 points to 2,181.24. Jakarta was closed for a public holiday

The Japanese market has enjoyed a pick-up in recent weeks thanks to a dip in the yen, which helps exporters, as well as upbeat corporate earnings.

Tuesday saw auto giant Honda post healthy second-quarter earnings and announce an increase in its full-year sales and profit forecasts. That came a day after rival Nissan said quarterly profit surged 37 per cent.

In other markets:

q Mumbai closed up 0.37 per cent, or 96.19 points, at 26,087.42 points. Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation was up 35 rupees at 642.35 rupees while Larsen & Toubro was down 120.35 rupees at 1524.40 rupees.

q Bangkok slipped 0.12 per cent, or 1.76 points, to close at 1,518.79. Coal producer Banpu fell 1.53 per cent, or 0.50 baht, to 32.25 while Bangkok Bank added 0.51 per cent, or one baht, to 196.

q Taipei added 0.59 per cent, or 55.14 points, to 9,447.02. Hon Hai fell 0.48 per cent to T$104.5 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co rose 0.4 per cent to T$124.5.

q Wellington slipped 0.14 per cent, or seven points, to 5,158.55. Telecom was down 2.63 per cent at NZ$2.77 and Contact Energy rose 0.18 per cent to NZ$5.52.

q Manila closed 0.25 per cent higher, adding 17.12 points to 6,867.59. Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co gained 1.59 per cent to 3,070 pesos and Metropolitan Bank and Trust fell 0.41 per cent to 85.30 pesos. AFP