Markets welcome Berlusconi decision

Asian stock markets turned higher today with investment sentiment on the upswing after Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi promised to resign once his country passes a new budget.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose 1% to 8,742.32, South Korea’s Kospi was 0.8% higher at 1,917.94, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 2.3% to 20,122.28. Australia’s S&P ASX 200 rose 1.5% to 4,359.