Asian stocks higher as euro regains ground

HONG KONG: Asian stock markets were mostly higher Friday, while the euro regained some ground after swooning on concerns about Greece's financial crisis.

The regional move higher came despite U.S. and European markets slipping overnight. Oil prices headed toward $79 a barrel.

Greece's uncertain outlook as it struggles with a financial crisis has intensified broader fears over the debt mountains in other European nations.

Those concerns dragged Athens' bourse down nearly 3 percent and the euro to near a ninth-month low against the dollar.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average rose 42.92 points, or 0.4 percent, to 10144.88 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 198.41, or 1 percent, to 20,597.98, following on the upward momentum after Wall Street pared its sharp losses on Thursday.

Elsewhere, South Korea's market rose 0.3 percent and Australian shares gained 0.5 percent.

Other markets fared worse, with Shanghai and Singapore stocks losing 0.3 percent.

In currencies, the euro rose to $1.3577 from $1.3547. The dollar strengthened to 89.35 yen from 89.13 yen.

Oil prices climbed in Asian trade, with benchmark crude for April delivery up 31 cents at $78.48. The contract lost $1.83 to $78.17 overnight.

On Wall Street Thursday, the Dow fell 53.13, or 0.5 percent, to 10,321.03.

The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index slipped 2.30, or 0.2 percent, to 1,102.94. The Nasdaq composite index fell 1.68, or 0.1 percent, to 2,234.22.