DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the Asian markets finished out the session modestly to the upside. Michelle Han has details this morning for us from Hong Kong. Good morning, Michelle.</s>MICHELLE HAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, David. It was by and large a positive picture in Asia. After retreating in early going, Japan entered the trading session higher, led by telecommunication stocks. And leading that advance was Japan's largest cellular company, NTT Mobile Telecommunications. NTT announced it will spend over $9 million for a five-percent stake in an online-bank venture. In Hong Kong, the Heng Sang posted record gains again today after a turbulent session. And the reason for the turbulence: Futures contracts expire on Thursday, and investors wanted the market closing to the upside. And it did, finishing more than eight points higher. Australia had a lackluster session, but a last-minute interest in heavyweights Telstra and National Australia Bank pushed the index to close 15 points higher. And that's the quick wrap up of the Asia-Pacific markets, and now back to you, David, in New York.</s>HAFFENREFFER: All right, thank you, Michelle. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web
Telecommunication Stocks Lead Japan Higher; Heng Sang Recovers From Turbulence; Telstra, National Australia Bank Push Austria Higher