Asian shares ended mostly higher Tuesday following a rise on Wall Street overnight, with many investors shrugging off Friday’s disappointing U.S. jobs data as they returned from holiday.
In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index was lifted 242.56 points, or 1.3%, to 19,640.54
Markets in Hong Kong were shuttered for holiday.
Decisions by central banks in Australia and India to stand pat on monetary policy rattled local markets, however.
Stocks in Australia and New Zealand surrendered some ground in afternoon trading following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to stand pat on interest rates.
The RBA left its current cash rate target unchanged at 2.25%, but said that further easing may yet be appropriate.
The Aussie dollar jumped against its rivals, including the U.S. dollar, after the RBA announcement, rising to nearly $0.77 from the $0.76 mark.
Many in the market had expected the RBA to announce a rate cut — if not now, then later.
In other markets
The Shanghai CSI 300 increased 89.51 points, or 2.2%, to 4,260.04
In Singapore, the Straits Times Index regained 12.71 points, or 0.4%, to 3,465.62
The Kospi index in Korea eked up 0.60 points to 2,047.03
In Taiwan, the Taiex index returned from a long weekend to add 41.58 points, or 0.4% to 5,855.44
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 gained 24.04 points, or 0.4%, to 5,855.44
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 added 27.38 points, or 0.5%, to 5,925.97
