Asian markets traded higher in early deals on Monday, due to risk appetite in the market after softer US CPI data rekindled hopes for more Federal Reserve interest rate cuts next year. Rally in technological, financial and property sector stocks buoyed the local indices. Investor sentiments also got bolstered with the solid rise in US futures after Washington avoided a year-end shutdown Saturday and kicked off future spending decisions into Donald Trump’s presidency. Japan’s Nikkei surged after Bank of Japan kept its key short-term interest rate at around 0.25%, in line with estimates. The central bank needed more time to assess certain risks, including US policies under Donald Trump and next year's wage outlook. Moreover, softer local currency yen also whetted exporting and foreign investments.
Nikkei 225 surged by 460.47 points 1.19% to 39,162.37, Hang Seng rose by 137.28 points 0.69% to 19,857.98, Straits Times buoyed by 32.48 points 0.87% to 3,752.41, KOSPI Index increased by 40.30 points or 1.68% to 2,444.45, Taiwan Weighted supported by 554.23 points or 2.46% to 23,064.48, Jakarta Composite lifted by 87.46 points or 1.25% to 7,071.33, Shanghai Composite added by 6.92 points or 0.21% to 3,374.99, and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI was up by 6.09 points or 0.38% to 1,597.50.