Asian stocks mostly higher: Hang Seng surges over 2%, Nikkei climbs 3%

Asian stock markets traded mostly higher on Monday, buoyed by broadly positive cues from Wall Street and renewed optimism over a possible easing of US-China trade tensions.

The rebound followed a week of declines, with investors encouraged by signs of progress in dialogue between Washington and Beijing and stronger-than-expected economic data from China.

US President Donald Trump said over the weekend that the high tariffs he had threatened on Chinese imports were “probably not sustainable,” though he added that they “forced me to do that.”

Trump also confirmed plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit in South Korea later this month after earlier expressing doubts about the meeting’s value.

The remarks helped restore risk appetite across Asia, sending major regional indices higher.

Hong Kong, China stocks lead gains

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rebounded sharply, rising 2.4% to 25,853.08, recovering from Friday’s steepest loss since April.

The Hang Seng Tech Index advanced 3.1%.

China’s CSI 300 Index rose 1.2%, while the Shanghai Composite gained 0.9%.

The rally followed data showing China’s gross domestic product grew 4.8% year-on-year in the third quarter, matching forecasts but marking the strongest quarterly gain in a year.

The performance brought growth for the first nine months to 5.2%, keeping Beijing on track to meet its annual target.

Investors are also eyeing a key closed-door meeting in Beijing this week, where leaders will outline the country’s economic plans for the next five years.

A communique is expected on Thursday.

Among notable Hong Kong movers, NetEase surged 5.2% to HK$235.40, AIA Group rose 4.3% to HK$72, and Alibaba Group Holding gained 4.8% to HK$161.80.

On the downside, jewellery maker Chow Tai Fook slipped 2.2% to HK$16.16, while Longfor Group Holdings declined 1% to HK$10.30.

Japan’s Nikkei surges nearly 3%

Japanese shares extended strong gains, with the Nikkei 225 Index surging 2.92% to 48,970.40 in the morning session, reversing Friday’s losses.

The rally was broad-based, led by financials, technology firms, and heavyweight stocks.

SoftBank Group climbed more than 4%, while Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing added nearly 4%.

Automakers Honda and Toyota gained more than 2% each.

Among tech names, Advantest rose nearly 2%, Tokyo Electron advanced almost 4%, and Screen Holdings added close to 1%.

Other regional markets

The Australian market was modestly higher, with the S&P/ASX 200 up 0.09% to 9,003.60, led by gains in energy, financial, and technology sectors that offset weakness in mining stocks.

The broader All Ordinaries Index added 0.07% to 9,299.20.

Elsewhere, South Korea’s benchmark gained 1%, Indonesia rose 1.3%, New Zealand added 0.3%.

Markets in Malaysia and Singapore remained closed for Diwali.

Wall Street rally on Friday

The positive tone across Asia followed a strong finish on Wall Street on Friday.

US stocks regained ground after an early lack of direction, with all three major indices ending in positive territory.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 238.37 points, or 0.5%, to 46,190.61.

The Nasdaq Composite rose 117.44 points, or 0.5%, to 22,679.97, while the S&P 500 added 34.94 points, or 0.5%, to close at 6,664.01.

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