DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, a solid performance by U.S. markets keep the Asian markets in the plus column today.</s>DEBORAH MARCHINI, CNN ANCHOR: Lorraine Hahn wraps up the day in Asian trading now from our studios in Hong Kong -- Lorraine.</s>LORRAINE HAHN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you very much. A few things pushed most Asian markets into the positive column on Monday: firmer U.S. stocks last week, signs the U.S. economy is cooling; and easing interest rates -- interest-rate pressures, rather, provided some support in Asia. In Tokyo, stocks were lifted by stronger-than-expected Japanese machinery orders for the want to May. But any upside is seen as limited as investors wait for the Bank of Japan's next policy meeting next Monday. The BoJ will consider whether to abandon its 17-month- old policy of driving short-term rates virtually to zero. Core techs and telecoms were mostly higher: Sony up almost two percent, NEC Corp gaining three percent, NTT rose 1 1/3 percent. Overall, the Nikkei index rose one percent even. In Hong Kong, property shares soared after strong sales of private housing units over the weekend on news the government is lifting its quota on new units. The Hang Seng index added 2.4 percent. Finally, in South Korea, the market rose more than one percent as shares of brokerages surged. It seems the market and the country's currency, the won, took the indefinite strike by financial unions, which start tomorrow, in stride. That's a quick check from me, back to both of you.</s>MARCHINI: All right, Lorraine, thanks very much.
U.S. Rally, Easing Interest-Rate Pressures Drive Asian Markets Higher