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Asian Markets Continue to Post Solid Gains

VOA News

   Asian markets posted another day of solid gains Wednesday due to rising
   optimism over U.S.drugmakerPfizer's potential COVID-19 vaccine.

   The Nikkei in Tokyo finished 1.7% higher. Sydney's S&P/ASX index also
   closed 1.7% higher. Seoul's KOSPI index and the TSEC index in Taipei
   both ended up 1.3%, while Shanghai's Composite index lost 0.5%.

   Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is down 0.4% in late afternoon trading,
   while Mumbai's Sensex is 0.2% lower.

   In commodities trading, gold is selling at $1,874.20 per ounce,
   dropping 0.1%. U.S. crude oil is up 2.3%, selling at $42.35 per barrel,
   while Brent crude oil is selling at $44.62 per barrel, also 2.3%
   higher.

   In futures trading, the Dow and S&P 500 were trending higher, while the
   Nasdaq is trending lower.

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