An increase in orders for durable goods and a decline in the number of Americans filing for jobless benefits, indicates companies are confident of the sustainability of USA’s economic expansion in 2010.

Commerce Department figures reveal, while the demand for transportation equipment remains volatile, demand for durable goods, such as, machinery, metals, computers and communications gear increased, rising much more than the 2% forecast in November. According to the Labour Department, applications for unemployment insurance fell to their lowest level in over a year, last week.

Japanese stocks fell in Wednesday morning trading due to the strengthening of the yen. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 67.91 points, or 0.66 per cent, to stand at 10,144.55.

The broader-based Topix index also lost 2.25 points, or 0.25 per cent, to stand at 893.24.

Traders said hightech shares in particular suffered losses.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 91.65-69 yen, down from 92.03-05 yen in late trading Tuesday.

The euro traded at 1.4820-24 dollars, down from 1.4887-88 dollars, and at 135.83-87 yen, down from 137.01-05 yen.

The Securities & Exchange Commission said the arrest of hedge fund chief Raj Rajaratnam should be taken as a warning by others.

Director of the SEC's enforcement arm, Robert Khuzami said, other hedge funds should “consider what lessons can be learned and applied to their own operations.”

Hedge fund Galleon Group’s founder Raj Rajaratnam was arrested on Friday in connection with an insider trading case. He used to receive inside information from insiders for the purpose of trading on the basis of information.

Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 2.96 per cent Thursday to a near-10-month high with bank and property company shares fuelling the jump

The Hang Seng was up 569.33 points to 19,817.7. Turnover was 74 billion Hong Kong dollars (9.48 billion dollars).

China's main stock market index leapt by 2.42 per cent on Monday, following a regional surge spurred by higher oil prices.

The key Shanghai Composite Index, which tracks shares traded in local and foreign currencies, gained 77.18 points to close at 3,266.92, closing above 3,200 for the first time in 13 months.

Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index soared above 19,000 points to close at 19,502 on Monday, up 3.7 per cent, or 696 points, to reach its highest level in 10 months.

Turnover was 77.7 billion Hong Kong dollars (9.9 billion dollars).

Analysts said Monday's gains continued the surge that started last week as investors became more bullish.

Thai shares shot up 2.95 per cent Monday on a regional rally boosted by higher oil prices.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index ended at 613.67, up 17.56 points or 2.95 per cent.