English Lessons

DIRECTIONS: Read the folowing and answer all the questions?
http://www.americanenglishconversation.com/
http://www.freeenglishconversation.blogspot.com/
http://www.grammar-help.blogspot.com/

Asian stocks edged up in cautious trade on Friday as news of an agreement on an austerity program for Greece countered concerns about slowing global growth. 

Greece won the consent of the European Union and International Monetary Fund for a new five-year austerity plan, which is boosting sentiment in the region.

The FTSE CNBC Asia 100 Index [.FTFCNBCA  6634.06    84.55  (+1.29%)] , which measures markets across Asia, added 0.3 percent.

Tokyo stocks climbed higher on growing optimism for earnings of Japanese firms following positive forecasts by automakers Nissan Motor and Suzuki Motor.

The benchmark Nikkei [.N225  9678.71    81.97  (+0.85%)] rose 0.4 percent at 9,639.18, while the broader Topix index gained 0.3 percent to 828.16.
   
Seoul shares advanced in the morning session, lifted by solid gains in banks including KB Financial Group, but rises were limited as economic uncertainty lingered following weak U.S. jobs data. 

Crude oil refiners tumbled after news that industrialised nations had agreed to release oil from emergency stockpiles for the third time in history. Lower crude prices generally translates into lower product pricing and sales for South Korean refiners.

S-Oil, the country's No.3 crude oil refiner, fell 5.4 percent and SK Innovation, the country's top refiner, shed 5.6 percent. 

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index [.KS11  2090.81    34.95  (+1.7%)] was up 0.77 percent at 2,071.75 points.

Australian stocks [.AXJO  4518.10    17.60  (+0.39%)] reversed early gains to stand 0.2 percent lower, as a burst of optimism after Greece struck a deal for an austerity plan to avoid a debt default was offset by lingering economic gloom. 
    
Financial stocks gained on the news with Australia's banks generally stronger, led by top lender National Australia Bank, up 0.7 percent to A$24.63.   

But, shares in gas infrastructure company APA fell almost 10 percent after the company completed a A$300 million share placement at A$3.85, a 12 percent discount to its price at the time the capital-raising was announced.     

In China, the benchmark Shanghai Composite [.SSEC  2751.19    62.94  (+2.34%)] was rangebound amid concerns that Beijing may raise interest rates over the weekend.

Over in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng [.HSI  22124.39    365.25  (+1.68%)] is advancing, helped by gains in property and airline counters including Air China [0753.HK  7.83    0.63  (+8.75%)] and Cathay Pacific [0293.HK  17.86    0.96  (+5.68%)] .

Shares in Italian fashion house Prada, known for its leather handbags and colorful dresses, edged up in their Hong Kong trading debut, defying expectations for a weak start.  

Prada [1913.HK  39.55    0.55  (+1.41%)] shares rose as much as 1.3 percent to HK$40, compared with the IPO price of HK$39.50 each.

In Southeast Asia, Singapore's STI [.FTSTI  3063.61    18.89  (+0.62%)] climbed 0.3 percent and Malaysia's KLCI [.KLSE  1563.52    0.33  (+0.02%)] traded flat.

Financial stocks gained on the news with Australia's banks generally stronger, led by top lender National Australia Bank, up 0.7 percent to A$24.63?

A. TRUE
B. FALSE

Hong Kong trading debut, defying expectations for a weak start?

A. TRUE
B. FALSE