Markets in Asia were sharply higher.

The Nikkei rose 2.9% to 9,346. Mitsubishi UFJ (NYSE:MTU) fell.

The Hang Seng rose 3.3% to 21,822. HSBC (NYSE:HBC) rose.

The Shanghai Composite was up 3.2% to 3,195.

At the open, the FTSE rose and Rio Tinto (NYSE:RTP) and BHP Billiton (NYSE: BHP) were both higher. The Dax was up .5% to 5,174 nnd the CAC 40 rose .1% to 3,725.

Data from MarketWatch and Reuters

Douglas A. McIntyre