mazda

Cnooc, China's most visible offshore oil producer, announced record-high net profits for 2010, helping to send Asian oil shares higher.

Japan's markets got a slight reprieve today as the yen slipped a bit after hitting a record high yesterday. While the lower value helped exporters recover from severe losses earlier in the trading session, the country has a long way to go before confidence in its economy's resilience is restored.

Asian markets closed lower Wednesday as investors focused on rapidly rising oil prices, which broke the $100-per-barrel mark in response to growing tensions in the Middle East. In Japan the Nikkei 225 Index slid 2.4%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 1.5%, and China's Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.2%.

It was a good month for auto sales despite inclement weather across much of the country and surging oil prices. Cars sold near an annual pace of 13 million vehicles. That would make February the best on record since the "cash for clunkers" rebate program in 2009.

Investors piled into Chinese stocks after news broke that China's GDP surpassed Japan's for 2010, making the People's Republic the world's second largest economy after the U.S. The Shanghai Composite climbed 2.5% and in Hong Kong the Hang Seng gained 1.3%. In Japan the Nikkei 225 Index advanced 1.1%.

Chinese investors returning from the New Year holiday were greeted by a 25 basis point hike in interest rates. The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.9%, in Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index fell 1.4%, and in Japan the Nikkei 225 Index declined 0.2%.

Japanese investors were giddy with excitement as positive earnings reports and the announcement of a major merger flooded the news. The Nikkei 225 advanced 1.1% on Friday, while markets in Hong Kong and China remained closed for the Lunar New Year.

Lower than expected earnings numbers from Japanese blue-chip companies dragged the Nikkei lower Thursday, as did the outbreak of violence in Egypt.

Mazda Motors posted a quarterly loss for October through December, down from a profit for the same period last year. The loss comes in spite of slightly higher revenue. The stronger yen and weak demand cut into the company's income.

Impressive earnings reports for blue chip U.S. companies and a rise in U.S. manufacturing data bolstered markets across Asia.