Asian markets settled mostly higher on Monday tracking Wall Street gains last Friday on optimism over the health of the US economy and Fed’s interest rate path. US industrial production increased by much more than expected in December while US single-family homebuilding rose to a 10-month high, separate reports showed. Although some gains were limited by investors’ cautious mood ahead of US President elect Donald Trump's inauguration later in the day, anticipating insights into his administration’s policies and potential signals on future interest rates. Japanese shares rallied, while the yen held near a one-month high amid expectations that the Bank of Japan might raise interest rates at its upcoming policy meeting. Moreover, government data showed Japan's core machinery orders rose 3.4% in November, exceeded expectations for a decline of 0.7% following the 2.1% increase in October. Chinese shares gained followed by news of the phone call between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump last week, spurring expectations that Sino-US relations will improve under the incoming US President. Meanwhile the PBoC maintained its one- and five-year Loan Prime Rates at 3.10% and 3.60%, respectively.
| Asian Indices | Last Trade | Change in Points | Change in % |
| Shanghai Composite | 3,244.38 | 2.56 | 0.08 |
| Hang Seng | 19,925.81 | 341.75 | 1.72 |
| Jakarta Composite | 7,170.74 | 16.08 | 0.22 |
| KLSE Composite | 1,572.34 | 5.62 | 0.36 |
| Nikkei 225 | 38,902.50 | 451.04 | 1.16 |
| Straits Times | 3,807.97 | -2.81 | -0.07 |
| KOSPI Composite | 2,520.05 | -3.50 | -0.14 |
| Taiwan Weighted | 23,266.82 | 118.74 | 0.51 |
