· European stocks opened higher on Monday morning, amid heightened expectations U.S. lawmakers could pass a long-awaited tax bill.
The pan-European Stoxx 600 was up around 0.53 percent shortly after the opening bell, with most sectors and major bourses in positive territory.
· Asian shares edged up on Monday, with sentiment boosted by expectations U.S. lawmakers will pass a long-awaited tax bill this week, while Chinese stocks were soggy on concerns about liquidity and tighter regulations in the world’s second largest economy.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS gained 0.4 percent. Japan's Nikkei .N225 was the best performer in the region, rising 1.6 percent to edge closer to a 25-year peak of 23,382 points set last month.
· Japanese stocks scored their biggest rise in over a month on Monday with financials and exporters in hot demand, while construction shares bounced after sliding on news that prosecutors had raided the headquarters of at least two builders for alleged antitrust violations.
The Nikkei share average finished 1.55 percent higher at 22,901.77, its biggest gain since Nov. 7 and its highest closing level in a week.
The construction sector edged up 0.12 percent, erasing earlier losses driven by news Tokyo prosecutors had raided the headquarters of at least two of Japan’s biggest construction firms for alleged antitrust violations linked to $80 billion worth of magnetic levitation (maglev) train line projects.
· China’s main Shanghai stock market ended slightly firmer on Monday, recovering from earlier losses, while its main blue-chip Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index also closed up on the day.
The market was earlier weighed down by concerns over tight year-end liquidity after the central bank lifted interbank market rates but sentiment improved in the afternoon partly aided by property data.
At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 2.19 points or 0.07 percent at 3,268.33.
Reference: Reuters, CNBC
Thai
Eng