Asian Shares Mostly Higher In Thin Holiday Trade

(RTTNews) - Asian stocks ended mostly higher in thin trade Monday, with markets in mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Seoul closed for Lunar New Year celebrations. Chinese markets won't resume trading until Jan. 30.

Japanese shares rallied as the yen retreated from last week's 7 1/2-month high and minutes of the Bank of Japan's December policy meeting showed that board members wanted to modify their yield control curve in order to improve market functionality. The Nikkei average jumped 1.33 percent to 26,906.04, with chip-related stocks leading gains. The broader Topix index ended 0.96 percent higher at 1,945.38.

Australian markets finished marginally higher as miners snapped a two-day winning streak, offsetting gains in the tech sector.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 5.10 points at 7,457.30, extending gains for the fourth day running and hitting its highest level since April 22 last year.