In Asia today, the Hang Seng ended the morning up 623.65 points at 27,510.93,
while the Nikkei ended 616.37 points lower, shedding 4% to 14,691.41 on its first
trading session of the year.
New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February, was 16
cents higher at $99.34 a barrel.