Asia-Pacific markets moved higher on Monday, following fresh record highs for major United States benchmarks on Friday, as investors turned focus toward regional economic data releases.
By 11 am AEST (1 am GMT), Australia's S&P/ASX 200 had risen 0.2%, Japan's Nikkei 225 advanced 1.5%, and South Korea’s Kospi 200 was up 0.6%.
In South Korea, industrial production fell 2.9% in May, following a 0.6% decline in April and significantly undershooting market expectations of a 0.1% drop.
Japan's preliminary industrial production rose 0.5% in May, well below the forecast 3.5% increase, suggesting a modest rebound in manufacturing activity.
China’s official manufacturing and non-manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) readings for June rose to 49.7% and 50.5%, with manufacturing activity remaining in contraction for a third straight month.
Australia’s private sector and housing credit figures were also released by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), up 0.5% apiece on a monthly basis, while rising 6.9% and 5.8% year-on-year, respectively.
On Wall Street, stocks closed higher Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 1%. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both rose 0.5%, notching fresh record highs.
Among commodities, Brent crude edged up 0.2% to settle at US$66.80 per barrel, while spot gold slipped 1.6% to multi-week lows of US$3,274.18 per ounce.
In China, equities fell as the Shanghai Composite declined 0.7% to 3,424.2 and the CSI 300 dropped 0.6% to 3,921.8.
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index eased 0.2% to 24,284.2. Meanwhile, India’s BSE Sensex rose 0.4% to 83,058.9, hitting an eight-month high.
European markets finished mostly higher. London’s FTSE 100 added 0.7% to 8,798.9, Germany’s DAX climbed 1.6% to 24,033.6, and France’s CAC 40 gained 1.8% to 7,691.6.
