Asian markets gained Monday after Greek lawmakers voted in favor of austerity measures required to secure bailout funds and avert a likely default.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 Index regained 52.01 points, or 0.6%, to end the session at 8,999.18
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index tacked on 103.54 points, or 0.5%, to 20,887.40
Broad gains for Asia on Monday followed news that Greek lawmakers approved a package of austerity measures which international backers had demanded before signing off on 130 billion euros ($176.6 billion U.S.) worth of fresh aid.
The vote came amid violent protests in Athens against the latest round of deep spending cuts and public-sector job layoffs
Select Asian exporters with relatively large exposure to Europe did well in Monday trading.
In Tokyo, Mazda Motor Corp. put on 1.4%, and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. added 2.1%, while Esprit Holdings Ltd. climbed 4.5% in Hong Kong.
Notable movers on the Japanese bourse included Softbank Corp., which rallied 3.5% following a Nikkei news report that the firm was likely to win new spectrum.
Tokyo-listed shares generally shrugged off data showing Japan’s economy contracted by a larger-than-expected margin in the last quarter of 2011.
In Hong Kong, insurers were among the leading advancers. Ping An Insurance Group Co. rose 2.2%, while AIA Group Ltd. added 1.9%.
Also in Hong Kong, China Resources Land Ltd. finished down 5.8%, Agile Property Holdings Ltd. plunged 6.6%, Evergrande Real Estate Group Ltd. surrendered 6.9%, and China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd. dropped 4.8%.
Most major exporter shares did well in Seoul, as Samsung Electronics Co. gained 2%, while Kia Motors Corp. jumped 3.6%, and LG Display Co. climbed 2.6%.
In Sydney, banks advanced with Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. finishing 1.6% higher after the lender announced it would cut 1,000 jobs in Australia.
Elsewhere in the sector, Macquarie Group Ltd. improved by 1.2%, while Westpac Banking Corp. and National Australia Bank Ltd. each rose 1.4%,
Shares in Leighton Holdings Ltd. fell 2% after the construction firm said one of its subsidiaries was being investigated by the Australian Federal Police for a potential ethical breach.
CHINA
However, news that the eastern Chinese city of Wuhu reversed plans to lift home-buying restrictions in effect across much of the country hit mainland Chinese property names.
The Shanghai CSI 300 let go of 1.64 points to 2,531.98
In Shanghai, Gemdale Corp. fell 2.9%, and Poly Real Estate Group Co. lost 3.1%.
In other markets;
Taiwan’s Taiex Index hiked 50.64 points, or 0.6%, to 7,912.21
Korea’s Kospi Index put on 12.03 points, or 0.6%, to 2,005.74
Singapore’s Straits Times Index gained 16.34 points, or 0.6%, to 2,976.31
New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index subtracted 8.11 points, or 0.2%, to 3,340.02
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index regained 39.81 points, or 0.9%, to 4,285.13
