STEVE INSKEEP, Host: NPR's business news starts with global stock markets and the new president.</s>STEVE INSKEEP, Host: Some analysts say a Barack Obama administration is likely to boost spending to stimulate the economy, and that could be good for Asian exporters who sell to American consumers. Today's gains also come on the tail of a record Election Day rally in the United States, and there's been a week of market gains due to signs of a thawing out in the credit markets. European stocks, we should mention, are trading lower today. The market indicators in France, Germany, and Britain are being dragged down by the shares of troubled banks.
Japan's main index ended the day up more than 4 percent. Hong Kong rallied more than 3 percent. Stock markets in Australia, South Korea and China also ended the day sharply higher. Some analysts say a Barack Obama administration is likely to boost spending to stimulate the economy, and that could be good for Asian exporters.