Chinese stocks rose to a fresh all-time high on Monday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closing above 4,200 for the first time ever.
The Shanghai index gained 2.2 percent at 4,272.11. Turnover on the index was a record 261.1 billion yuan ($34.4 billion). Shenzhen Composite Index rose 2.4 percent to 1,264.05, also a record.
Japanese stocks rebounded from a two-day loss Monday as high copper and other commodities futures in New York on Friday boosted materials producers such as Sumitomo Metal Mining.
The Nikkei 225 index rose 106.38 points, or 0.6 percent, to 17,587.59, recouping some of Friday's 1.22 percent drop.
Hong Kong shares ended flat Monday as investors shied away from blue chips amid few positive cues.
The blue-chip Hang Seng Index rose 9.10 points, or just 0.04 percent, to 20,529.76.
Elsewhere:
SINGAPORE: The Straits Times Index closed up 26.74 points, or 0.8 percent, at 3,513.37 points.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index of 100 blue chips added 0.5 percent to 1,345.99 points.
SEOUL: The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 13.35 points, or 0.8 percent, to 1,657.91.
MANILA: The benchmark 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index gained 1.80 points, or 0.05 percent, at 3,443.56.
SYDNEY: The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index dropped 1.4 points to 6,251.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks were flat Monday as large cap stocks closed mixed and the market took a breather after the previous busy news week. The benchmark NZX-50 index closed down 0.8 point at 4,304.41.
With files from wire services
