KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer= HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stock markets advanced Tuesday, led higher by exporters after a report on U.S. retail sales showed consumers in the world's biggest economy stepped up spending. Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 1.3 percent to 8,689.29 and South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.9 percent to 1,941.45. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.3 percent to 21,206.42. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.3 percent to 4,496.50. Benchmarks in Taiwan, Singapore, and New Zealand also rose. Investors were encouraged by a U.S. Commerce Department report that showed retail sales rose 1.1 percent in September. August's number was also revised slightly higher to 1.2 percent. The two figures...
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