Asian Shares Extend Gains On Vaccine Optimism CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Asian stocks ended mostly higher on Tuesday as concerns about volatile retail trading receded and investors pinned hopes that declining coronavirus cases and vaccine rollout will support near-term economic recovery. Optimism about talks regarding U.S. stimulus also boosted sentiment. Chinese shares ended notably higher and short-term money rates eased to two-week lows as signs of liquidity tension in the interbank money markets started to fade. The benchmark Shanghai Composite index rose 28.40 points, or 0.81 percent, to 3,533.68, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index ended up 355.84 points, or 1.23 percent, at 29,248.70. Japanese shares extended gains from the previous session on optimism around U.S. stimulus plans and hopes for robust earnings. The Nikkei average ended up 271.12 points, or 0.97 percent, at 28,362.17 amid reports that the government will extend a state of emergency for Tokyo and surrounding cities for another one month.