Money traders work at computer terminals with screens indicating the U.S. dollar which is traded at 104.309 yen at a foreign exchange company in Tokyo, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. TOKYO (AP) - Asian stock markets rose Wednesday, tracking gains in the U.S. that were spurred by stronger-than-expected retail sales. Japan's Nikkei 225 climbed 1.8 percent to 15,695.56 as the Japanese yen weakened relative to the dollar, boosting exporters such as Toyota and Sony. The Nikkei 225 lost 3.1 percent on Tuesday as the market, which was closed Monday, reacted to last week's dismal U.S. jobs report. But data showing a 0.2 percent gain in U.S. retail sales in December breathed new life into markets and helped drive stronger interest in the dollar, relieving upward pressure on the yen. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.3 percent to 22,852.58 and South Korea's Kospi added 0.2 percent to 1,949.48. Markets in Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan and Australia also were higher. The Shanghai Composite Index dropped 0.5 percent to 2,016.10 on persisting concerns over the potential impact on prices from new share issues. Overnight in Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares rose 0.1 percent to close at 6,766.86 while Germany's DAX gained 0.3 percent to 9,540.51. The CAC-40 in France rose 0.3 percent to 4,274.20. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial average added 0.5 percent to 16,336 while the broader S&P 500 index rose 0.9 percent to 1,834.88. The S&P 500 gained 19.68 points, or 1.1 percent, to 1,838.88, its biggest gain since Dec. 18. In foreign exchange dealings, the euro was down 0.3 percent at $1.3636 while the dollar rose 0.2 percent to 104.39 yen. Benchmark U.S. crude for February delivery was steady at $92.59 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 79 cents to close at $92.59 on Tuesday.