Wall Street News

Stock markets and oil prices in Asia recently saw an increase, indicating the demand for the latter could be improving.  As well, makers of electronics increased between 0.9 and 2.8 percent in Tokyo.  IN Hong Kong the Hang Seng index rose 0.4 percent but South Korea’s Kospi index was “nearly flat.”  While Australia’s S&P/ASX200 slightly increased, BHP Billiton Ltd. Saw a hit of 1.8 percent which was a marked difference from the company’s claim of over 70 percent net profit increase from last July to December.  The Dow Jones industrial average encountered its second straight day of losses on Tuesday with the Dow falling 0.3 percent.  Nasdaq fell 0.5 percent as did Standard & Poor’s 500 index which dropped 0.3 percent.  On the New York Mercantile Exchange delivery increased 35 cents a barrel in electronic trading.