HONG KONG: Asian markets mostly rose Monday, lifted by strong US jobs data and Italy's agreement of new austerity measures, while dealers were also looking ahead to a Franco-German meeting to save the euro.
Investor confidence remained high after last week's rally that was spurred by the decision of six major central banks to provide cheap dollars to under-pressure lenders in a bid to boost financial markets.
Tokyo was 0.43 percent higher by the break, Hong Kong gained 0.34 percent, Sydney added 0.78 percent and Seoul was flat but Shanghai dipped 0.20 percent.
The region was given a positive cue after the US Labor Department said unemployment dropped to a 32-month low of 8.6 percent in November, surprising most analysts who forecast it would hold at 9.0 percent.
The economy created a net 120,000 jobs, close to forecasts and 20 percent above October.
On Sunday Italy's cabinet agreed an austerity plan that aims to eliminate its budget deficit by 2013, including 17 billion euros in new taxes, 13 billion euros in public spending cuts, and 10 billion euros in measures aimed at boosting growth. (AFP)
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