Hong Kong stocks on Monday logged their biggest daily gain in more than a month, as tensions eased in the territory as some pro-democracy demonstrators withdrawing from the protest zones.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 182.30 points, or 1.2%, to 15,890.95. The yen strengthened to ¥109.39 against the U.S. dollar, compared with ¥109.78 in the previous session.
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng index climbed 250.48 points, or 1.1%, to 23,315.04. Stocks had been hit recently as central Hong Kong was clogged by protests against Beijing’s plan to tightly control the election of the territory’s chief executive in 2017.
Local lenders bounced back, as index heavyweight HSBC Holdings PLC recovered 0.6% after eight straight sessions of losses, and Chong Hing Bank Ltd. advanced 1%. Bank of East Asia Ltd. rose 0.8%, and BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Ltd. added 0.6%.
Hong Kong retailers also rebounded, with top winners including cosmetics vendors Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd. and Bonjour Holdings Ltd. up 3.3% and 2.8%, respectively.
Casino stocks rallied after heavy losses at the end of last week, as Macau’s gambling revenues declined by a less-than-expected 11.7% in September from a year ago. Sands China Ltd. surged 7.1%, Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. soared 6.6%, SJM Holdings Ltd. spiked 5.5%, MGM China Holdings Ltd. jumped 5.2%, and Wynn Macau Ltd. leapt 4.9%.
Other market movers included Chinese online major Tencent Holdings Ltd. climbing 3.2%, and Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd advancing 2.9%.
Markets in Shanghai and Singapore remained closed for a holiday
In other markets;
Korea’s Kospi index returned to business after a long weekend to dip 7.77 points, or 0.4%, to 1,968.39
The Taiex index in Taiwan docked 11.14 points, or 0.1%, to 9,095.14
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 regained 14.32 points, or 0.1%, to 5,241.31
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slid 25.30 points, or 0.5%, to 5,292.91
