- Asian stocks rose on Monday after a volatile week in global markets finished on Friday with a rise in risk assets. In Hong Kong, stocks advanced sharply, with financial stocks leading the way.
- Benchmark indexes in South Korea and Australia rose over 1%, followed by Westpac Banking's gain of around 3% after first-half net earnings that was somewhat higher than analyst projections.
- Meanwhile, Japan's Topix index fell as traders returned after national holidays. On the Topix, a sub-index of bank shares fell almost 1%.
- After a good showing on Wall Street on Friday, contracts for US equities remained little altered. The S&P 500 ended its longest losing skid since February, rising 1.9% as US regional banks recovered.
- The Nasdaq 100 jumped 2.1%, with Apple strong profits helping to push the megacap tech market as the world's most valuable firm rose nearly 5%.
- Most major currencies were barely changed in early trade on Monday after the dollar strength index fell 0.6% last week. The dollar gained 0.2% against the yen. Treasuries yields have reduced their gains, while yields in Australia and New Zealand have risen.
