Japan stocks advanced to their best closing level in 15 years on Monday, extending a four-day winning streak, as markets tracked a rally in the U.S. equities at the end of last week.
The Nikkei 225 index gained 134.62 points, or 0.7%, to 18,466.92, the highest settlement since April 2000
The Hang Seng Index returned from holiday to eke up 4.68 points to 24,836.76.
The yen weakened versus the U.S. dollar, trading at ¥119.23 from ¥119.07 late Friday in New York.
In Japan, top outperformers included electronics component supplier TDK Corporation, jumping 2.4%, camera maker Olympus Corp., gaining 2.3%, rival Nikon Corp., adding 1.1%, and auto maker Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., up 1.5%.
However, auto-parts provider Takata Corporation fell 2.6%, after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it wouldf ine the company $14,000 per day for failing to fully cooperate with the agency’s probe into its defective air bags.
In other markets;
Markets in Shanghai remained closed for Lunar New Year, due to reopen on Wednesday.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index dipped 14.36 points, or 0.4%, to 3,421.30
The Taiex index in Taiwan took on 33.20 points, or 0.4%, to 9,529.51
The Kospi index in Korea moved up 6.94 points, or 0.4%, to 1,968.39
New Zealand’s NZX 50 index gained 5.41 points, or 0.1%, to 5.754.36
The S&P/ASX index gained 26.44 points, or 0.5%, to 5,907.98
