New bank loans in China jumped by more than expected to an all-time high in January, as the central bank moved to shore up the sputtering economy, reinforcing expectations for more stimulus in the coming months.
Most Asian currencies moved in a tight range on Monday as market holiday across most of the region kept trading volumes limited, while the dollar fell slightly before key inflation data due this week.
Gold prices moved little in holiday-thinned Asian trade on Monday, with the yellow metal keeping to a trading range established over the past week as traders sought more cues from upcoming U.S. inflation data.
-Oil prices fell in early Asian trade on Monday after Israel said it had “concluded” a series of strikes in southern Gaza, slightly easing concerns about supply from the Middle East.
The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Fujikura Ltd. (TYO:5803), which rose 23.85% or 300.00 points to trade at 1,558.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. (TYO:3105) added 9.24% or 115.00 points to end at 1,359.50 and SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984) was up 8.72% or 641.00 points to 7,991.00 in late trade.
