Wall Street Rises, Asia Shares Open Higher

Asian shares were largely higher in early trading Tuesday, following gains in the U.S. on stabilizing oil prices and signs the economy there may be improving.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average was up 0.7 percent at 10,697.21, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.13 percent to 4,832.60. Shares in Singapore, New Zealand and Taiwan were also higher.

In Japan, fresh data showed the jobless rate held steady in January, but consumer spending fell, underscoring questions about the country's economic recovery as the government tries to pass a new fiscal budget.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng was off 0.3 percent at 23,327.03.

The mostly positive showing came after solid gains on Wall Street. Reports that Libyan ports had reopened to oil tankers and Saudi Arabia was boosting exports relieved pressure on oil prices, and U.S. government data showed consumer incomes rose in January.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.8 percent to close at 12,226.34, while the broader Standard and Poor's 500 climbed 0.6 percent to 1,327.22. Despite falls last week as the violence in Libya unfolded, both posted their third straight month of gains in February.

In currencies, the dollar rose to 81.95 yen from 81.92 yen overnight, and the euro slipped to $1.380 from $1.382.