Asian stocks up in opening trade as trade worries ease

Hong Kong and Tokyo stocks rallied at the open Tuesday, with Hong Kong extending the previous day's surge of more than two percent, after another record lead from Wall Street as investors welcomed news the US and Mexico had agreed a revised NAFTA trade pact.

The Hang Seng Index climbed 0.92 percent, or 259.62 points, to 28,530.89. And the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged up 0.05 percent, or 1.39 points, to 2,782.29, while the Shenzhen Composite Index, which tracks stocks on China's second exchange, was marginally higher, inching up 0.34 points to 1,497.05.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was up 0.69 percent or 157.07 points at 22,956.71 in early trade while the broader Topix index rose 0.69 percent or 11.88 points at 1,740.83.

(AFP/APP)