Stocks in Asia-Pacific surged on Monday as silver prices saw strong gains.
The Nikkei 225 regained 427.66 points, or 1.6%, to 28,091.05.
The Japanese yen traded at 104.69 per U.S. dollar following its weakening last week from levels below 104 against the greenback.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong restocked 609.15 points, or 2.2%, to 28,283.71.
Korean markets led the region, as shares of biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion soared 14.5%.
Shares of several Australia-listed miners surged in Monday trade: Argent Minerals soared 59.7% while Adriatic Metals jumped 19.8% and South32 gained 3.9%. That came as spot silver prices rose, last trading more than 10% higher at $29.78 an ounce.
The Australian dollar changed hands at $0.765, having slipped from levels above $0.768 last week.
CHINA
In Shanghai, the CSI 300 added 65.69 points, or 1.2%, to 5,417.65.
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.
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 other markets
In Korea, the Kospi index recovered 80.32 points, or 2.7%, to 3,056.53
In Singapore, the Straits Times lost 6.2 points, or 0.2%, to 2,896.32
In Taiwan, the Taiex Index triumphed 271.78 points, or 1.8%, to 15,410.09
In New Zealand, the NZX 50 slumped 30.04 points, or 0.2%, to 13,097.25.
In Australia, the ASX 200 regained 55.61 points, or 0.8%, to 6,662.96.