Stock market today: Rate hopes push Asian shares higher while oil prices edge lower

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian shares have climbed after Wall Street advanced on potentially encouraging news about interest rates, which have been dragging markets lower since the summer.  

U.S. futures slipped and oil prices also fell back slightly after surging Monday following Israel's declaration of war on Hamas following its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip.  

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gained 2.4% to 31,746.53 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong picked up 0.7% to 17,644.63. India's Sensex advanced 0.7%. 

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 rose 1% to 7,040.60. South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.3% to 2,402.58. In Bangkok the SET gained 0.3%.