Optimism that key data due this week in the United States and Japan will show a strengthening of the global economy sent Asian stocks higher on Tuesday. The upbeat sentiment also proved a boon for the euro, which was lifted further from its 10-month lows against the greenback as dealers became more willing to take risks. Japan closed 1.01 percent, or 110.67 points, higher at 11,097.14, the Nikkei ending at its highest level since October 2, 2008, just as the global downturn kicked in. It was helped by the data showing unemployment was unchanged at 4.9 percent, in line with expectations. Steel firms were up despite reports Nippon Steel had reached an accord with Brazilian mining giant Vale for a roughly 90 percent hike in iron ore prices in the April-June period. Brokers said the steel sector rose despite the new prices on the view that companies will pass on the increases to consumers, which is a positive in a deflationary environment. Hong Kong rose 0.65 percent, or 137.36 points, to close at 21,374.79, while Sydney gained 0.40 percent, or 19.5 points, to end at 4,916.8. Mining heavyweight BHP Billiton was up 2.37 percent after it announced Monday it was scrapping an annual pricing model for most Asian steel mills in favour of selling iron ore on a short-term basis. Rival Rio Tinto, which on Monday sacked four executives jailed in China for corruption over last year's failed iron ore pricing talks, rose 1.1 percent. Markets were given a strong lead from Wall Street, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.42 percent to its highest level since September 26, 2008, the beginning of the global downturn. Shanghai rose 0.15 percent, or 4.67 points, to 3,128.47. Traders across the region have been keeping their eye on the release of the Bank of Japan's quarterly Tankan report of business sentiment on Thursday, with most expecting a fourth straight rise. And in the United States the government will release Friday its non-farm payrolls figures for March, with forecasts suggesting about 200,000 jobs were created. Also providing a lift, on Monday Washington reported consumer spending rose 0.3 percent in February from 0.4 percent the previous month, while personal income was flat following an upwardly revised 0.3 percent growth in January. The euro edged up to 1.3503 dollars in Tokyo from 1.3477 in New York Monday on continued sentiment from last week's decision by European leaders to provide help to debt-laden Greece. It also rose to 124.79 yen from 124.57. The US dollar is usually considered a safe haven by investors compared to the euro, which is seen as a riskier bet on currency markets and tends to rise in times of greater economic optimism. The dollar was stable at 92.41. Oil rebounded from earlier losses in Asian trade, with New York's main contract, light sweet crude for May delivery, up 28 cents to 82.45 dollars a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for May delivery 13 cents higher at 81.30 dollars. Gold closed at 1,111.50-1,112.50 US dollars an ounce, down from Monday's close of 1,112.00-1,113.00 dollars. In other markets: -- Singapore closed 0.15 percent, or 4.25 points, higher at 2,933.39. DBS Group Holdings dropped 0.68 percent to 14.56 Singapore dollars and Singapore Airlines was up 1.69 percent at 15.66 Singapore dollars. -- Seoul closed 0.48 percent, or 8.20 points, higher at 1,700.19. -- Taipei rose 0.19 percent, or 14.77 points, to end at 7,962.22. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co remained unchanged at 62.2 while United Microelectronics Corp was 0.3 percent higher at 16.8. -- Kuala Lumpur was flat, edging down 0.14 points to close at 1,319.35. -- Jakarta gained 0.13 percent, or 3.49 points, to 2,798.26. -- Manila rose 0.83 percent, or 26.66 points, to end at 3,204.22. The market closed at its highest level for 26 months. Ayala Land added 1.9 percent at 13.25 pesos. -- Wellington ended flat, edging 1.45 points lower to 3,249.65. Resins company Nuplex fell 1.4 percent to 3.53 New Zealand dollars and utilities investor Infratil rose 2.4 percent to 1.72 , while Telecom rose 1.4 percent to 2.16. 