Asian stock markets will resume. On Thursday, the major markets of the region evolve into positive territory, unlike the sessions yesterday, marked by a sharp decline. A hint of optimism resurfaced since the end in green on Wall Street Tuesday. The U.S. indices finished on a small rise of 0.43% despite macroeconomic indicators worse than expected (in the U.S., housing prices went back down in July while consumer confidence fell unexpectedly ). The emergence of new concerns about the health of the European banking system following the announcements by Standard & Poor's on Ireland has not sealed the meeting.

In Japan, investors are following this trend. The Nikkei opened higher on from 0.89% to 0.78% at 9570 points at a time of closing. The Topix is 0.56% to 847 points.The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has published its Tankan index measuring the confidence of large manufacturers in Japan: the latter rose for the sixth consecutive quarter, gaining 7 points to reach eight points. However, observers urge caution: according to them, the yen is too expensive and likely to make pessimistic firms, which should prompt the BoJ to intervene more forcefully on the foreign exchange market.

Sino-Japanese crisis subsides

In China, the indices of stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai are also advancing. The Hang Seng is 1.34% and the Shanghai Composite climbed 0.50%. The diplomatic tensions with the Japanese Voison are still present as evidenced by the possible stationing of "soldiers of the forces of self-defense" Japanese near disputed islets with China.

On the commercial front, the crisis seems to subside, however.China is preparing to export its new rare metals to Japan, after the de facto embargo imposed in crisis between the two countries. The newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported that China Customs had resumed Tuesday, the registration procedures for export of these valuable substances for the islands, citing unidentified Japanese traders.

Mixed

Some exchanges, however, are more sensitive to image Scholarships Australia and India, which fell respectively 0.12% and 0.11%. Note that the Australian Stock Exchange is looking for a new boss. Robert Elstone, the current leader of the ASX does not wish to be extended after the end of his contract in late July 2011.

The Korean KOSDAQ appears in small increase of 0.20%.

Oil up

Crude prices were up Wednesday in Asia.In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for November delivery gained 25 cents to 76.43 dollars. That of Brent North Sea with identical maturity appreciating by 47 cents to 79.18 dollars.

But persistent concerns about the health of the U.S. economy should limit this movement, according to analysts.