Asia markets traded higher across the board on Monday, extending gains from last week following the announcement of fresh stimulus measures from the European Central Bank
The Nikkei 225 leaped 294.88 points, or 1.7%, to 17,233.75
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index improved 235.74 points, or 1.2%, to 20,435.34
Some market commentators believe the ECB's announcement Thursday of additional easing bolstered demand for riskier assets.
On Thursday, the ECB cut its main refinancing rate to 0% and its deposit rate to negative 0.4%. The central bank extended its monthly asset purchases to 80 billion euros ($87 billion U.S.), to take effect in April, up from 60 billion euros previously.
Central banks remain in focus this week, as the Bank of Japan starts its two-day monetary policy meeting on Monday and the U.S. Federal Reserve meets later this week.
In the currency market, the Japanese yen remained at the 113 handle against the U.S. dollar The U.S. dollar/yen pair traded at 113.79. Japanese exporters closed mostly higher, with shares of Toyota adding 1%, Nissan gaining 1.5% and Honda higher by 0.5%
Elsewhere, the "risk on" mode in trading saw the Australian dollar touch its highest level since July 2015 against the U.S. dollar, with the pair at 0.7535, despite disappointing Chinese data released over the weekend.
Energy plays were higher across the board, with Santos up 3.4%, Oil Search adding 0.1% and Inpex gaining 1.1%.
In corporate news, shares of Telstra closed up 2.3% after the company announced that it was ending its joint venture negotiations with Philippine conglomerate San Miguel.
In a media release on its website, Telstra said it had been unable to reach commercial arrangements on a possible equity investment in a wireless joint venture in the Philippines with San Miguel.
CHINA
The Shanghai CSI 300 index gained 47.41 points, or 1.6%, to 3,065.69
The Chinese yuan was flat against the U.S. dollar at 6.4938. Before market open, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) fixed the yuan mid-point at 6.4913. On Friday, the PBOC set the yuan mid-point fix at 6.4905, its strongest level in 2016.
Media reports showed government data showed factory output grew 5.4% in January and February combined from a year earlier, slowing from a 5.9% rise in December. Retail sales, a measure of domestic consumption, rose 10.2% in the first two months, falling short of market expectations of a 10.8% rise.
Chinese mainland oil plays closed up, with Sinopec adding 3.3% and China Oilfield gaining 2%
One of China's biggest property firms, China Vanke, signed a deal worth up to $9.3 billion with subway operator Shenzhen Metro Group that could make the latter its biggest investor, reported Reuters.
Media reports said Vanke's management has been battling for control of the company with its biggest current shareholder Baoneng, a financial conglomerate.
In other markets;
In Korea, the Kospi index inched up 0.86 points to 1,972.27
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index picked up 41.76 points, or 0.5%, to 8,747.90
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index strengthened 18.2 points, or 0.6%, to 2,847.06
The NZX 50 in New Zealand gained 51.42 points, or 0.8%, to 6,566.83.
In Australia, the ASX 200 tacked on 19.06 points, or 0.4%, to 5,185.46
