Asian markets end mixed session mostly higher

Mining stocks were boosted as gold surged to a fresh record above US$1,160 per ounce, with Sydney closing 0.67 percent higher.

Shanghai finished up 0.92 percent but sentiment was clouded ahead of China's annual economic planning meeting at the end of the month, dealers said.

Hong Kong closed 1.41 percent firmer after four straight losses, as investors sought bargains in Chinese banks and insurers.

The region had earlier taken its cue from Wall Street's 0.14 percent decline Friday but moved higher later in the day in line with rising commodities prices, as continuing U.S. dollar weakness boosted investor inflows.

HONG KONG: Up 1.41 percent. The Hang Seng Index gained 315.55 points to 22,771.39.

SYDNEY: Up 0.67 percent. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 31.2 points to 4,717. Dealers said department stores gained after Gerry Harvey, of furniture, computer and electrical retailer Harvey Norman, said this year's Christmas sales would be “an absolute record.”

SHANGHAI: Up 0.92 percent. The Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, was up 30.32 points at 3,338.66 Investors remained cautious ahead of China's annual economic planning meeting at the end of the month, dealers said. The conference lays the groundwork for the coming year's Work Report that the premier presents to the legislature in March.

Metal and coal producers led Monday's gains due to a continued rise in the prices of the resources. Gold producer Shandong Gold-Mining rose 4.4 percent to 77.82 yuan and copper maker Jiangxi Copper was up 2.7 percent at 43.36 yuan.

Most stocks listed on the Nasdaq-style ChiNext board closed higher, led by Henan Hanwei Electronics, which advanced 7.5 percent to 49.80 yuan.

SEOUL: Down 0.10 percent. The KOSPI fell 1.55 points to 1,619.05. Hynix Semiconductor lost 0.52 percent to 19,050 won and LG Electronics fell 0.46 percent to 107,500.

SINGAPORE: Up 1.32 percent. The blue-chip Straits Times Index surged 36.34 points to 2,797.88, the highest level this year.

BANGKOK: Down 0.70 percent. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index dropped 4.84 points to 690.41. Investors continued to stay on the sidelines because of ongoing domestic political concerns, an analyst said. KUALA LUMPUR: Down 0.27 percent. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index shed 3.48 points to 1,270.88. “Today's performance was not surprising as the only lead we had was from a weaker close on Wall Street,” a dealer said.

JAKARTA: Down 0.24 percent. The Jakarta Composite Index lost 5.94 points to 2,481.41.

MANILA: Down 0.68 percent. The composite index shed 20.73 points to close at 3,048.00 Investors took profits selectively after recent gains, dealers said.

WELLINGTON: Flat. The NZX-50 lost 0.65 points or 0.02 percent to 3,112.98. The index was weighed by Telecom, which was trading ex-dividend and fell eight cents to 2.48 dollars.

MUMBAI: Up 0.93 percent. The 30-share Sensex closed up 158.33 points at 17,180.18.

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