Asian markets mostly rose on Tuesday with energy firms rallying with their US counterparts after the recovery in oil prices extended in New York, where the Dow chalked up another record high ahead of Independence Day.

Crude lost around a fifth of its value between mid-May and mid-June, hitting 10-month lows, as traders fretted that a pick-up in US output was offsetting cuts by key producers in OPEC and Russia.

But the commodity has recovered around half of those losses in recent weeks as US firms have cut the number of rigs pumping, easing supply glut worries.

While both main contracts dipped slightly on Tuesday, regional energy firms tracked the previous day's gains of around two percent on the oil market.

PetroChina surged more than four percent and CNOOC piled on almost three percent in Hong Kong, while Tokyo-listed Inpex added 1.6 percent and JXTG also added nearly three percent.

However, refiner Idemitsu Kosan plunged more than 12 percent after saying it plans to raise up to $1.2 billion in a share sale despite opposition from its founding family to a merger with rival Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K.

Showa Shell soared more than six percent.

In Sydney Woodside Petroleum rallied 1.4 percent and Ro Tinto added 1.5 percent.

- 'Aggressive pullback' -

The gains supported most regional stock markets. Tokyo ended the morning 0.4 percent higher, while Hong Kong gained 0.1 percent and Sydney jumped 1.7 percent. Singapore added 0.1 percent and Wellington was 0.3 percent higher.

But Shanghai slipped 0.4 percent as authorities tightened borrowing rules for home-buyers and Seoul was dragged 0.1 percent down.

In foreign exchanges the dollar held up after bouncing Monday from last week's sharp losses thanks to upbeat factory figures. Analysts also suggested central banks were stepping back from last week's hawkish comments indicating a tightening of monetary policy.

The pound was weighed by below-forecast manufacturing data while European Central Bank officials looked to temper boss Mario Draghi's suggestion of higher interest rates.

"We've seen an aggressive pullback from last week's speculative bets fuelled by the hawkish chorus of central bankers," said Stephen Innes, senior trader at OANDA.

"The dollar recovered in part due to the (US) manufacturing report, which surprised with the highest print since August 2014. But concerns that central banks may temper the hawkish lean for fear of creating unwanted volatility remain in the back of traders minds."

However, the greenback eased slightly against the Japanese yen following another missile test by North Korea, the latest provocation to ratchet up tensions over its nuclear weapons ambitions.

Investors are awaiting the release Wednesday of minutes from the Federal Reserve's June policy meeting at which it raised interest rates, while key US jobs data is due on Friday.

- Key figures around 0230 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.4 percent at 20,141.21 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.1 percent at 25,820.55

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.4 percent at 3,183.65

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1371 from $1.1363 at 2000 GMT

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2950 from $1.2943

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 113.26 yen from 113.46 yen

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 29 cents at $46.78

Oil - Brent North Sea: DOWN 33 cents $49.35 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.6 percent at 21,479.27 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.9 percent at 7,377.09 (close)

dan/mtp

PETROCHINA

INPEX

Idemitsu

SHOWA SHELL SEKIYU

CNOOC

Tweet

Trump administration charts path to energy dominance
Washington (UPI) Jun 30, 2017
U.S. government agencies said they've opened up new levers for oil and natural gas development with new pipelines, export and offshore drilling opportunities. "We will be dominant," U.S. President Donald Trump said during an event at the nation's Department of Energy. "We will export American energy all over the world." A pro-oil president known as a trade protectionist, the Trum ... read more

Related Links
All About Oil and Gas News at OilGasDaily.com

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only