Asian-Pacific markets open higher after Dow jump
Associated Press, New Zealand | Fri, 08/12/2011 8:16 AM
Stock markets in Japan, Australia and New Zealand opened higher Friday, following a big jump on Wall Street.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average was at 9,036 in early trading, gaining less than 1 percent and erasing some of Thursday's losses.
Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX200 index gained almost 1 percent to 4,169 points in early trading. On Thursday, the index closed down slightly after recovering from heavy losses earlier in the day.
New Zealand's benchmark NZX50 was up 43 points, or 1.4 percent, to 3,252 after closing up 1 percent on Thursday.
World markets have fluctuated wildly this week as uncertainty over the global economy continues.
In New York on Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average jumped 423 points. It had already fallen 634 points Monday, risen 429 Tuesday and fallen 519 Wednesday. Never before had the Dow had four 400-point swings in a row.
