Asian equity benchmarks are trading up in the early deals on Monday, tracking the positive cues from Wall Street and European markets on Friday, after weaker than expected US jobs data boosted expectations that the Federal Reserve will delay raising interest rates later this month. In addition, higher commodity prices lifted resources stocks. Markets are also awaiting news of an agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal between the US and 11 other countries being negotiated in Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Japanese stocks rose buoyed by signs of progress in Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, a trade agreement which could give a major boost to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's struggling economic policy. The markets in China will remain closed for National Day holidays.
Nikkei 225 gained 336.72 points or 1.90% to 18,061.85, Hang Seng strengthen 395.30 points or 1.84% to 21,901.39, KOSPI Index surged 17.47 points or 0.89% to 1,987.15, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI added 12.33 points or 0.76% to 1,641.13, Taiwan Weighted increased 48.97 points or 0.59% to 8,354.00, Jakarta Composite jumped 112.94 points or 2.68% to 4,320.74 and Straits Times was up by 43.62 points or 1.56% to 2,836.77.