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• South Korea surges nearly 3% as Asia-Pacific stocks rise; China’s manufacturing growth slowed in January

Stocks in Asia-Pacific surged on Monday as silver prices saw strong gains.

South Korea’s Kospi led gains among the region’s major markets, jumping 2.7% to close at 3,056.53 as shares of biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion soared 14.51%.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index also saw robust gains, advancing about 2.2%, as of its final hour of trading.

Mainland Chinese stocks nudged higher on the day as the Shanghai composite rose 0.64% to 3,505.28 while the Shenzhen component advanced 1.365% to 15,024.24.

A private survey showed Chinese manufacturing activity growth slowing in January, with the Caixin/Markit manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) coming in at 51.5. That compared against expectations for a reading of 52.7 by analysts in a Reuters poll.

Figures above 50 in PMI readings represent expansion, while those below that level signify contraction.

The latest Caixin numbers came a day after China released its official PMI for January, which was at 51.3. In comparison, the reading for December was 51.9. Analysts in a Reuters poll had expected the figure for January to come in at 51.6.

In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.84% higher to close at 6,663. Shares of several Australia-listed miners surged in Monday trade: Argent Minerals soared 59.65% while Adriatic Metals jumped 19.82% and South32 gained 3.94%. That came as spot silver prices rose, last trading more than 8% higher at $29.24 an ounce.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 1.92%.

• Japanese shares end higher as upbeat earnings forecasts aid sentiment

Japanese shares closed higher on Monday, after two straight sessions of declines, as upbeat earnings forecasts and gains in beaten-down chipmakers lifted sentiment.

The Nikkei share average ended 1.55% higher at 28,091.05 and the broader Topix gained 1.16% to 1,829.84.

Japanese stocks had tumbled for two days as investors grew nervous about further market turbulences in the U.S. caused by the headline-grabbing battle between retail investors and funds that specialise in shorting stocks.

· China shares end higher on January factory activity

China shares closed higher on Monday, rebounding from the previous week's fall, after growing factory activity in January showed a continued recovery in the world's second-largest economy, although domestic lockdowns hit the pace of growth.

At the close, the Shanghai Composite index was up 0.64% at 3,505.28.

The blue-chip CSI300 index rose 1.23% after falling more than 3.9% last week, with its financial sector sub-index 1.25% higher and the real estate index up 0.89%.

China's factory activity grew in January, in line with an ongoing economic recovery, but at the slowest pace in five months after new coronavirus infections prompted lockdowns.

· European stocks climb, tracking positive moves in global markets

European stocks advanced on Monday, echoing positive market sentiment elsewhere.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 climbed 1% in early trade, with basic resources adding 2.5% to lead gains as all sectors and major bourses entered positive territory.

European markets look set to start the trading week on a positive note, like their global counterparts, despite turbulent trading last week after retail investors prompted what Goldman Sachs has called the biggest short squeeze in 25 years. Overnight Sunday, U.S. stock index futures turned positive in volatile trading following last week’s heavy losses — the worst for the market since October.

Another busy week of earnings is coming up with 99 S&P companies set to report; Alphabet, Amazon, Alibaba, Snap, Exxon, Biogen, Pfizer and Chipotle are among the names set to report this coming week.

In other U.S. news, a group of 10 Republican senators sent President Joe Biden a letter on Sunday, urging him to consider a smaller, scaled-down Covid-19 relief proposal. His current plans call for $1.9 trillion in additional fiscal stimulus.

European investors will be keeping an eye on developments in the deployment of coronavirus vaccines after tensions last week over supplies of the vaccine, particularly from AstraZeneca, and criticism over the speed of the vaccine rollout in the EU.

Data releases Monday include the euro zone unemployment rate for December, manufacturing PMI data for December and new car registration data from Spain. Earnings come from Siemens Healthineers, RyanAir, Nintendo and Banco Sabadell and Julius Baer.

Reference : Reuters,CNBC