Markets Right Now: Asian shares mixed as oil rallies

NEW YORK (AP) - All times local.

12:30 a.m.

Asian stocks are mixed after an overnight surge in oil prices raised questions about the outlook for the energy sector.

Investors also are watching for the outcome of policy meetings by the U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.4 percent to 17,276.52. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.2 percent to 21,356.43. The Shanghai Composite index was nearly flat at 2,965.61. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.2 percent to 5,295.80.

Benchmark U.S. crude oil rose 44 cents to $44.48 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It rose $1.40, or 3.3 percent, to $44.04 a barrel on Tuesday.

Angus Nicholson of IG says, "The concern is that at $45 (a barrel) a significant amount of oil plays become profitable again and we still have not seen a big enough decline in oil output to bring about the appropriate supply and demand rebalancing."

"Everyone in the market is concerned that we could see a repeat of 2015, where after a dramatic price decline, prices began to rise again and prompted a huge influx of oversupply and an even more severe selloff."

4:00 p.m.

U.S. stocks are closing mostly higher as the energy sector got some help from an increase in oil prices.

ConocoPhillips jumped 4 percent Tuesday, while Pioneer Natural Resources climbed 8 percent.

Several stocks were moving on earnings news. Trucking company Ryder System rose 6 percent after reporting results that were better than analysts had expected. Chemicals maker DuPont rose 2 percent.

Appliance maker Whirlpool sank 4 percent after saying its results were hurt by a stronger dollar.

The Dow Jones industrial average added 13 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,990.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged up three points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,091. The Nasdaq composite slipped seven points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,888.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.94 percent.

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11:50 a.m.

U.S. stock indexes are mixed in midday trading, while energy companies got a boost from higher oil prices.

Chevron rose 1 percent Tuesday, one of the biggest gains in the Dow Jones industrial average.

Several stocks were moving on earnings news Tuesday. Trucking company Ryder System rose 5 percent after reporting results that were better than analysts had expected. Chemicals maker DuPont rose 2.5 percent.

Appliance maker Whirlpool plunged 5 percent after saying its results were hurt by the appreciating value of the dollar.

The Dow Jones industrial average was little changed at 17,976.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged up three points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,091. The Nasdaq composite slipped five points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,890.

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11:45 a.m.

European stock markets have closed little changed as investors await the latest policy decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan.

The Fed has begun its two-day meeting Tuesday while the Bank of Japan is set to meet Thursday.

Joshua Mahoney, market analyst at IG, says "there is good reason for today's hesitancy, given the unpredictable nature of financial markets around these times."

Among the main indexes in Europe, Germany's DAX has closed down 0.3 percent at 10,259.59 while the CAC-40 in France has ended 0.3 percent lower at 4,533.18. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares outperformed its peers, closing 0.4 percent higher at 6,284.52. BP was largely behind the FTSE's performance as its share price advanced 4.3 percent to 376 pence after better than expected first-quarter earnings.

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9:35 a.m. Eastern

U.S. stocks are modestly higher in early trading as energy companies rose along with the price of crude oil.

Several stocks were moving on earnings news early Tuesday. Trucking company Ryder System and JetBlue each rose about 1 percent after reporting results that were better than analysts had expected.

Appliance maker Whirlpool plunged 6 percent after saying its results were hurt by the appreciating value of the dollar.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 22 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,997.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index edged up two points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,090. The Nasdaq composite increased five points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,901.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.92 percent.

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9:45 a.m.

European stock markets are recouping much of the previous day's losses in the run-up to the latest policy decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan.

The Fed begins its two-day meeting later Tuesday while the Bank of Japan is set to meet Thursday.

Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, says traders hope for "continued accommodative language from the former and more policy easing from the latter."

Those hopes have helped shore up sentiment across European markets. Among the main indexes, Germany's DAX is up 0.3 percent at 10,327 while the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares has edged up 0.4 percent to 6,287.

As well as awaiting the central bank meetings, traders have a raft of earnings statements to digest this week, including Apple late Tuesday.

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7:00 a.m.

Asian stock markets were mostly lower Tuesday ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan policy meetings, as commodity prices lost steam, dragging on big miners.

Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.5 percent to 17,359.80 and South Korea's Kospi rose 0.2 percent to 2,018.99. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped 0.6 percent to 21,171.76 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.4 percent to 5,280.90. The Shanghai Composite index was nearly flat at 2,945.83. Taiwan was higher but most markets in Southeast Asia fell.

Investors are not expecting the Federal Reserve to change policy this month but its two-day meeting will be watched for any indications about it future moves and when it would resume rate hikes.

A string of economic reports are due before the Bank of Japan's monthly policy meeting on Thursday, including Japan's consumer price index, unemployment figures, retails sales and industrial production. Expectations have risen that the BOJ will opt for more stimulus.

U.S. stocks slipped in quiet trading on Monday. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.2 percent to 17,977.24. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 0.2 percent to 2,087.79. The Nasdaq composite index slid 0.2 percent to 4,895.79.

Benchmark U.S. crude added 34 cents to $42.98 per barrel in New York.

The dollar fell against the yen but rose against the euro.