Asian shares ended mostly higher after reports said

Chinese data for January showed monthly exports jumped 25 per cent and imports climbed 28.8 per cent from the year-ago period, giving the country USD 29.2 billion trade surplus. Key benchmark indices in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan rose by 0.16-0.99 per cent while Japan's Nikkei Average fell 1.80 per cent. European markets were trading higher in their early trade as France, Germany and UK moved up by 0.48-0.54 per cent. Turning to the local market, 21 out of 30-share Sensex declined while only nine counters finished with gains. Major losers from the Sensex included Cipla (3.34 pc), Sterlite Ind (3.20 pc), Hindalco Ind (3.18 pc), Maruti Suzuki (2.27 pc), ONGC (2.02 pc), Dr Reddy's Lab (1.99 pc), Hero MotoCorp (1.96 pc), SBI (1.75 pc), M&M (1.41 pc), Coal India (1.41 pc), Jindal Steel (1.34 pc), ICICI Bank (1.31 pc), Tata Motors (1.39 pc), Tata Steel (1.01 pc) and HUL (0.96 pc). However, TCS rose by 2.58 per cent, followed by Wipro (1.57 pc), HDFC Bank (1.24 pc), BHEL (1.21 pct) and L&T (0.89 pc). Among the sectoral indices, the BSE-Metal fell by 1.70 per cent, BSE-PSU by 1.23 per cent, BSE-Realty by 1.19 per cent, BSE-Auto by 1.18 per cent, BSE-Oil&Gas by 1.14 per cent, BSE-HC by 1.06 per cent and BSE-FMCG by 0.98 per cent. The market breadth remained negative as 1,397 scrips ended lower while 763 stocks ended higher. 799 ruled steady. The total turnover rose to Rs 2,519.49 crore as against Rs 2,189.41 crore yesterday. Meanwhile, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) continued their buying spree by investing net Rs 827.14 crore yesterday, as per provisional data from the stock exchanges.