Asian markets were trading firm. Hong Kong�s Hang Seng was up 0.12 percent or 28.47 points at 23,153.50. Singapore�s Straits Times added 0.59 percent or 18.99 points at 3,213.30. South Korea�s Seoul Composite gained 0.26 percent or 5.28 points at 2,012.60. Taiwan�s Taiwan Weighted jumped 0.47 percent or 38.57 points at 8,223.25. Japan�s Nikkei was down 0.18 percent or 26.60 points at 14,772.52. China�s Shanghai Composite was flat at 2,156.32.