Global Shares Mostly Higher            02/19 05:20

   Global shares mostly rose Wednesday, despite overnight losses on Wall Street 
and continuing fears about the outbreak of a new virus that began in China.

   TOKYO (AP) -- Global shares mostly rose Wednesday, despite overnight losses 
on Wall Street and continuing fears about the outbreak of a new virus that 
began in China.

   France's CAC 40 rose 0.3% in early trading to 6,077.14. Germany's DAX gained 
0.4% to 13,730.90, while Britain's FTSE 100 edged up 0.6% to 7,428.06. U.S. 
shares were set to drift higher with Dow futures rising 0.2% to 29,270. S&P 500 
futures were also up 0.2%, at 3,375.50. 

   Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose0.9% to finish at 23,400.70.Australia's 
S&P/ASX 200 added 0.4% to 7,144.60. South Korea's Kospi edged up 0.1% to 
2,210.34.Hong Kong's Hang Seng added0.5% to 27,655.81,while the Shanghai 
Composite gave up earlier gains, edging 0.3% lower to 2,975.40. 

   Adding to optimism, new virus cases in China have been falling, with 1,749 
new infections and 136 new deaths announced on Wednesday. But data are showing 
disruptions to manufacturing, retailing and tourism.

   "Collapse in demand due to COVID-19 remains the key worry for the markets 
across the globe as the disease continues its spread," said Prakash Sakpal, 
economist for Asia at ING.

   Japan reported its third straight month trade deficits in January and like 
the rest of Asia is enduring a downturn in tourism. Some controls have been set 
on travel to and from China and other places suffering from outbreaks of the 
virus. 

   Trade is likely to be a "major drag" on Japan's economic growth this 
quarter, Tom Learmouth of Capital Economics said in a commentary. He is 
forecasting a 0.6% decrease in GDP in the January-March quarter linked to 
disruptions from the virus. 

   The gains in Asian trading followed a modest loss on U.S. stock indexes, 
which gave up some of their solid gains from the past two weeks.

   ENERGY: Benchmark crude oil rose44 cents to $52.73a barrel in electronic 
trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude oil, the international 
standard, rose 45 cents to $58.20a barrel. 

   CURRENCIES: The dollar rose to110.20Japanese yen from 109.87 yen on Tuesday. 
The euro inched up to$1.0802from $1.0792.


(CZ)