In Asia today, the Nikkei closed 180.09 points higher at 15,914.23, while the Hang Seng reached midday up 186.65 points at its intraday high of 19,194.95.
New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for January delivery, was down 7 cents at $60.10 a barrel after jumping $1.37 to $60.17 in late US trade Tuesday.