Europe Asia News

Asian stock markets generally showed positive performance on the first trading day of the week. A recovery in US technology stocks also spread to regional markets, driving gains in stock exchanges in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and China.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index climbed 3.4 percent to 59,411.34 points, while South Korea's Kospi index rose 1.5 percent to 5,137.22 points. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained 0.2 percent to 24,525.58 points, while the Shanghai Composite index increased 0.4 percent to 3,663.91 points.

Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index declined 0.1 percent to 9,011.50 points. Taiwan's Taiex index was among the region's standout performers, rising 5.6 percent.