Asian Markets Up, Shrugging off Wall Street Fall

 BANGKOK (AP) -- Asian markets have been mostly up, shrugging off a fall on Wall Street as South Korea's fastest growth in seven years underscored the region's strengthening economic recovery.

U.S. stocks faltered Friday as investors dumped stocks and locked in profits after the glow of a week full of strong earnings reports faded.

But markets in Asia are finding new impetus after South Korea's central bank said economic growth accelerated to 2.9 percent in the third quarter from the previous quarter. That's the fastest growth since the first quarter of 2002.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average has been up 0.7 percent and South Korea's Kospi advanced 1 percent. Hong Kong's market is closed for a holiday.

China's Shanghai benchmark has been down 0.3 percent but Taiwan's market was up 0.5 percent.

 

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