Asian markets ended mostly higher Monday, reversing course after dropping earlier in the session, with Japanese shares lifted by exporters such as Nikon Corp. on a pullback in the yen and with shares in Australia rallying on financials amid hopes of industry consolidation.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 88.02 points, or 0.6 percent, to 13,743.36. Financial markets in Hong Kong were closed for public holidays.
In Tokyo, gainers included electronics firm Kyocera Corp. rose 2.1 percent and Konica Minolta Holdings Inc. jumped 12 per cent.
In mainland China, stocks rebounded from early losses on gains in banking shares. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.4 per cent to 3,626.98. The Shenzhen Composite Index rose 1.3 per cent to 1,111.97.
Share prices fell after the government announced that the consumer price index, the country's main inflation benchmark, rose 8.5 per cent in April over the same month a year earlier. That was an acceleration from March's 8.3 per cent increase, although short of February's 8.7 per cent rise, the highest in 12 years.
Elsewhere:
The Philippines' key index rose 0.9 percent to 2,803.49.
Taiwan's main index rose 0.4 percent to 8,830.05.
Singapore's Straits Times Index rose 0.6% to 3,180.16.
The S&P/ASX 200 index finished 1% up at 5,828.50.
New Zealand's NZX 50 index gained 1% to 3,637.83.
with files from other wire services
