Most of the Asian equity benchmarks are trading up in the early deals on Monday tracking the gains on Wall Street Friday after the release of better-than-expected US jobs data generated optimism about growth in the world's largest economy. In addition, higher commodity prices lifted resources stocks. Meanwhile, Japan's Nikkei share average rose, led by sharp gains for Toyota Motor Corp after it upgraded its earnings outlook, while a weaker yen following strong US jobs data underpinned overall sentiments. Among the other Asian markets, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Taiwan are also higher. Bucking the trend, Shanghai and Singapore are edging lower.
Nikkei 225 rose 116.87 points or 0.59% to 20,069.20, Hang Seng added 103.47 points or 0.38% to 27,666.15, Taiwan Weighted strengthen 71.58 points or 0.68% to 10,578.14, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI gained 0.61 points or 0.03% to 1,775.14, Jakarta Composite increased 25.28 points or 0.44% to 5,802.76 and KOSPI Index was up by 9.81 points or 0.41% to 2,405.26.
On the flip side, Shanghai Composite declined 5.4 points or 0.17% to 3,256.68 and Straits Times was down by 0.80 points or 0.02% to 3,325.72.