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Hong Kong - Asia's markets rose on Tuesday following a pick-up on Wall Street while the dollar held on to gains enjoyed against the yen in New York, but investors are keeping an eye on Ukraine as diplomats try to avert a civil war.
Sydney was up 0.41% and Shanghai added 0.14%, Singapore was 0.17% higher and Taipei gained 0.12%.
Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul were shut.
New York dealers provided a healthy cue, with all three of Wall Street's main indicess advancing after the Institute for Supply Management said its purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the US services sector rose to 55.2 in April from 53.1 in March.
It was the highest reading since last July and came in better than the 54.0 figure expected by analysts. A number above 50 indicates expansion in the sector, which accounts for the bulk of US economic activity.
On Friday, ISM's manufacturing sector PMI rose for the 11th straight month in April, to a better-than-expected 54.9.
The Dow edged up 0.11%, the S&P 500 added 0.19% and the Nasdaq was 0.34% higher.
However, events in Eastern Europe are keeping traders in edge.
Fighting intensified between government forces and pro-Moscow secessionists on Monday, with Ukraine's military suffering heavy casualties and Russia warning the violence was putting peace in Europe in peril.
Ukraine's interior ministry said pro-Russian gunmen controlling the town of Slavyansk were using civilians as human shields and shooting from houses, some of which were ablaze.
Diplomats scrambled to ease the worst East-West crisis since the end of the Cold War, with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon offering himself as a personal go-between.
Speaking exclusively to AFP in Abu Dhabi, Ban offered "to provide my own role if necessary" before the crisis "spins out of control and creates huge consequences beyond anybody's control".
European leaders, fearing all-out civil war on their eastern flank, have also launched a new peace bid, urging Ukraine and Russia to find a negotiated solution.
On foreign exchange markets the dollar bought ¥102.1, against ¥102.14 in New York on Monday, while the euro was at $1.3875 and ¥141.7, compared with $1.3874 and ¥141.72.
Oil prices fell. US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate for June delivery, eased 5 cents to $99.43 in early Asian trading. Brent North Sea crude for June dipped 22c to $107.50.
Gold fetched $1 308.83 at 02:20 GMT compared with $1 308.83 on Monday.
