Asian markets maintained a positive start to the new trading week on Monday, continuing to recover from the global rout that hammered stocks in the first few weeks of 2016.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 gained 152.38 points, or 0.9%, to end the day at 17,110.91.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong shot up 259.63 points, or 1.4%, to 19,340.14
Japanese exporters were also mixed, with shares of Toyota flat and Honda down 0.1%. The dollar-yen pair was down 0.2% from the previous session, trading at 118.47. A stronger yen is a negative for exporters because it reduces their overseas earnings when converted back into local currency.
Investors will eye the Bank of Japan's monetary policy decision on Friday.
Sharp shares, which soared last week on the back of multiple takeover offers from a Japanese state-backed investment firm as well as Taiwanese iPhone assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry, were down 2.3%
Elsewhere, shares of Japan Tobacco were up 7.4% after the company said it plans to hike prices on its core cigarette lineup.
Oil stocks around the region traded mostly higher, with Santos gaining 4.2%, Woodside Petroleum up 3.8%. Japan's Inpex was up 3.3% and Japan Petroleum higher by 6.5%. South Korea's S-Oil traded 0.9% higher.
Chinese energy plays also gained, with Hong Kong-listed shares of CNOOC, Petrochina, and Sinopec trading up as much as 5.2%. On the mainland, China Oilfield was up by 4.8%
Resources producers traded mixed, with major Australian miners Rio Tinto down 1.2%, and BHP Billiton up 0.1%. Rio was among the several mining stocks that were put on review for downgrade by ratings agency Moody's on Friday.
Oz Minerals shares were down 4.2% after Morgans downgraded the stock Friday to hold from add and cut its target price to A$4.45 from A$4.75, citing the possibility the company may build out its Carrapateena copper project in South Australia.
In other markets
The CSI 300 Index advanced 15.42 points, or 0.5%, to 3,128.89.
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index inched up 5.55 points, or 0.2%, to 2,582.64
The Kospi in Korea added 14 points, or 0.7%, to 1,893.43
Taiwan’s Taiex index vaulted 137.97 points, or 1.8%, to 7,894.15
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 climbed 53.63 points, or 0.9%, to 6,175.24
The ASX 200 moved higher 90.61 points, or 1.8%, to 5,006.56.
