Chinese stocks rose Monday, as strong buying of property and cement makers' shares helped Shanghai's key index recover from a drop earlier in the day.
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.6 percent to 4,046.39, rebounding from a 2 percent dip in the morning.
Hong Kong shares surged to a record high Monday, boosted by Chinese-related shares after Beijing said it will allow approved mainland banks to invest in foreign stocks for the first time.
The blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 511.03 points, or 2.5 percent, to 20,979.24.
Japanese stocks rose Monday, led by blue chips and pharmaceutical shares, as investors were cheered by Friday's advance on Wall Street.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index added 124.22 points, or 0.71 percent, to finish at 17,677.94 points on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. On Friday, the index shed 1.03 percent.
Elsewhere:
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian shares rose Monday, buoyed by positive domestic corporate news.The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index of 100 blue chips gained 0.6 percent to 1,359.59 points.
SYDNEY: Australian stocks reached record highs Monday with the energy and resources sectors driving the bourse upward on increases in U.S. stocks last week and strengthening commodities prices. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index rose 47.7 points, or 0.8 percent, to a record 6,345.1 close. The All Ordinaries index gained 49.4 points to a record 6,346.7 points.
With files from wire services
