Asian shares edge higher in early trade Tuesday, gold steadies(Update)

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was last up about 0.2 percent, after wavering between positive and negative territory for much of early trading. Japan's Nikkei share index rose 0.4 percent as markets reopened after a public holiday on Monday, climbing to three-week highs on growing expectations for strong first-quarter earnings. Spot gold added about 0.6 percent on the day to US$1,103.28 an ounce, after what traders described as a mini flash crash in the previous session. (A Reuters file picture shows a man walking past a board displaying the Nikkei average in Tokyo.)

Spot gold added about 0.6 percent on the day to US$1,103.28 an ounce, after what traders described as a mini flash crash in the previous session.

Earlier Report: