Asian markets settled mostly higher on Monday amid expectations that global central banks will start cutting interest rates next year to support uneven economic recovery. Meanwhile, investors were awaiting the release of the Federal Reserve's minutes from its November meeting due this week. Chinese shares gained after the PBoC kept its loan prime rate unchanged at 3.45% as widely expected, and also injected about 80 billion yuan of liquidity into markets. Further, Chinese central bank and financial regulators pledged to ensure financing support for the beleaguered real estate sector.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,068.32 | 13.95 | 0.45 |
| Hang Seng | 17,778.07 | 323.88 | 1.82 |
| Jakarta Composite | 6,994.89 | 17.22 | 0.25 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,456.92 | -3.75 | -0.26 |
| Nikkei 225 | 33,388.03 | -197.17 | -0.59 |
| Straits Times | 3,111.58 | -13.09 | -0.42 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,491.20 | 21.35 | 0.86 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 17,210.47 | 1.52 | 0.01 |
