Asian stocks rose Monday, with Japan's Nikkei average hitting a one-month high as investors bought domestic-oriented shares such as NTT DoCoMo and Aiful Corp., although broader gains were tempered ahead of key U.S. economic data.
In Tokyo, the benchmark Nikkei 225 index added 41.35 points, or 0.24 percent, to finish at 17,521.96 while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 73.21 points, or 0.37 percent, to close at 19,765.85.
Sanyo Electric jumped 19.90 percent to 2,410 yen (US$20.66). Among other gainers were Acom Co., which rose 5.61 percent to 4,520 yen (US$38.31).
Bucking the uptrend, utility and real estate shares fell, with Chubu Electric Power Co. declining 3.36 percent to 4,320 yen (US$36.61).
Elsewhere:
BANGKOK: Thailand's shares closed higher with the Stock Exchange of Thailand's SET index up 1.25 points, or 0.18 percent, to 679.04.
JAKARTA: Indonesian shares closed higher, boosted by heavyweight Telkom. The Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite Index was up 7.75 points, 0.4 percent, to close at 1,813.71.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's shares moved higher as foreign funds were interested in buying plantation, construction and property stocks. The Composite Index of 100 blue chips rose 8.67 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,244.32.
MANILA: Philippine shares dropped as many investors stayed out of the market after last week's gains. The 30-company Philippine Stock Exchange Index fell 20.01 points, or 0.6 percent, to 3,150.04.
MUMBAI: India's shares ended lower with the Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-stock Sensitive Index, or Sensex, dropping 161.61 points, or 1.22 percent, to 13,124.32.
SEOUL: South Korean shares gained, helped by a strong rebound in builders despite losses in steel maker Posco and banks. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, closed up 2.39 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1449.77.
SHANGHAI: Chinese stocks rose to a fresh record, with Shanghai's benchmark index topping 3,100 points for the first time on lively demand from securities funds and strong 2006 corporate earnings results. The Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.6 percent to 3,122.81, its fourth straight record close. The Shenzhen Composite Index rose 2 percent to 833.58, its fifth record high in a row.
SINGAPORE: Singapore shares closed flat, with the full valuations of blue chip stocks keeping buyers on the sidelines despite gains in regional markets. The Straits Times Index closed down 1.27 points, or 0.04 percent, at 3,204.55.
TAIPEI: Taiwan shares rose amid strong gains in the textile sector. The Weighted Price Index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange gained 18.50 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 7,877.82.
WELLINGTON: New Zealand stocks advanced, boosted by gains in heavyweight issue Telecom after it announced the sale of its Yellow Pages directories business. The benchmark NZX-50 index gained 41.1 points, or 1 percent, to 4,105.14.
SYDNEY: Australian shares finished in positive territory, with resources stocks accounting for nearly half the market's gain. The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished 0.7 percent higher at 5,990.7 points.
With files from wire services
