APAC markets started the week on a positive note, with investors turning focus to Donald Trump’s inauguration and China's loan prime rate decision.
By 11:35 am AEDT (12:35 am GMT), the Australian ASX 200 and the South Korean Kospi 200 gained 0.4% each, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 added 1.1%.
On Friday, major U.S. benchmarks rallied, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding 334.7 points or 0.8% to 43,487.8, the S&P 500 lifting 1% to 5,996.7 and the Nasdaq Composite advancing 1.5% to 19,630.2.
Among individual companies, Intel lifted 9.2%, Schlumberger jumped 9% and Truist Financial gained 6%.
Among decliners, J.B. Hunt dropped 7.4% after reporting disappointing earnings results, Eli Lilly down 4.2% after reporting declining sales of its weight-loss drug and Walgreen Boots Alliance dropping 3.1%.
In commodity markets, Brent crude oil was down 0.6% to US$80.79 a barrel, while gold was down 0.41% to US$2,703.25 per ounce.
In China, the Shanghai Composite added 0.2% to 3,241.8, while the CSI 300 lifted 0.3% to 3,812.3
In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index also lifted 0.3% to 19,584.1, while India’s BSE Sensex eased 0.6% to 76,619.3.
European indices finished Friday’s session higher, with the FTSE 100, DAX and CAC 40 lifted 1.4%, 1.2% and 1%, respectively.
