China

The Chinese mainland stock markets closed up on Monday.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 86.86 points, or 4.15 pct to close at 2180.50, While the Shenzhen Stock Index rose 309.81 points, or 5.49 pct, to end the day at 5951.29.

Hong Kong share prices closed sharply higher led by China Mobile and other telecom stocks on expectations that mainland authorities will issue third-generation (3G) licences early next year to enable operators to set up infrastructure and provide services in time for the Beijing 2008 Olympic games, dealers said.

The Hang Seng Index closed up 184.67 points or 0.99 pct at 18,924.66, off a low of 18,811.85 and high of 18,965.73.

Turnover was 44.47 bln hkd.

Japan

The Nikkei average rose 0.67 percent on Monday as Honda Motor Co. and other exporters advanced on a weaker yen, while shares of Japanese seafood suppliers jumped after Maruha Group Inc. said it plans to merge its operations with smaller rival Nichiro Corp.

The Nikkei was up 110.17 points at 16,527.99, the highest close since October 27.

The broader TOPIX index rose 0.72 percent to 1,627.97.

Australia

Share prices closed higher as investors were buoyed by the release of strong November jobs data in the US on Friday which led to a rally on Wall Street, dealers said.

The S&P/ASX 200 rose 43.9 points or 0.81 pct to close at 5,469.7.

The benchmark index closed off the day's high of 5,477.5 and above a low of 5,427.8.