Stocks open gap-up in line with Asian peers

Stocks opened sharply higher Monday, joining the global party after governments across the world unveiled more measures to restore confidence in the troubled financial system.

Asian markets joined the global party. After plunging 24 per cent last week, the Nikkei share average soared 12.4 per cent on Tuesday after a holiday on Monday. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 5.9 per cent after posting its biggest daily gain since October 1997 on Monday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng surged 2.72 per cent, Singapore's Straits Times climbed 5.12 per cent and South Korea's Kospi jumped 4.25 per cent.