BANGKOK — Asian stock markets kicked off the week on a positive note, primarily driven by a robust performance in China, where recent monthly reports indicated enhancements in manufacturing conditions.

Oil prices saw an uptick, while futures for U.S. markets experienced a slight dip.

Both governmental and private sector assessments of manufacturing managers revealed a surge in new and export orders, which may be partially attributed to U.S. importers making moves to avoid anticipated tariff increases under President-elect Donald Trump once he is inaugurated.
In a recent statement, President-elect Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on a group of nine countries known as the BRIC bloc if they engage in actions that could devalue the U.S. dollar. This bloc encompasses Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Trump expressed a desire for these countries to commit to not creating a new currency or taking measures that might undermine the U.S. dollar.
“In Asia, markets are buoyed by a wave of optimism, significantly driven by Wall Street’s impressive day on Friday and signs suggesting an easing of China’s economic troubles,” remarked Stephen Innes from SPI Asset Management in his analysis.
Innes highlighted that investors are anticipating further economic stimulus from Chinese authorities in light of Trump’s upcoming inauguration next month.
The Hang Seng index in Hong Kong rose by 0.2%, closing at 19,468.27, while the Shanghai Composite recorded a notable increase of 1% at 3,360.38. Taiwan’s Taiex saw a significant surge of 2.4%.
In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 index climbed by 0.7% to reach 38,482.47.

However, shares of Nissan Motor Corp. fell 1% following reports that Chief Financial Officer Stephen Ma intends to resign as the company reduces its workforce and production in response to declining sales in both China and other international markets.
South Korea’s Kospi index saw a 0.4% rise to 2,466.24, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged upward by 0.1% to reach 8,440.00.
The Thai SET index remained nearly stable.
The previous Friday’s half-day trading session post-Thanksgiving concluded with the S&P 500 advancing by 0.6%, settling at 6,032.38, the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 0.4% to 44,910.65, and the Nasdaq gaining 0.8% to reach 19,218.17.
Some retail stocks climbed as Black Friday unofficially marked the beginning of the holiday shopping season, even though many retailers had already rolled out early promotions. Both Macy’s and Best Buy experienced gains of around 2%.
Shares of Tesla rose 3.7% that Friday, contributing to a monthly increase exceeding 38%. The electric car manufacturer is anticipated to benefit from CEO Elon Musk’s favorable stance toward Trump.
Musk also sparked interest in Hasbro shares after posing a question on X regarding the company’s value, leading to speculation about a potential takeover. Consequently, Hasbro, known for its Dungeon & Dragons game, saw its shares rise by 2%.
Apple’s stock increased by 1.1% as the tech giant hopes that its recently integrated artificial intelligence features will entice consumers to purchase a new iPhone for the holiday season.
In the realm of cryptocurrency, Bitcoin was trading at $96,911.32, inching closer to the $100,000 mark, as per Coin Desk reports.
Early trading on Monday indicated that U.S. benchmark crude oil had garnered 37 cents, reaching $68.37 per barrel. Brent crude, the global standard, also saw a rise, gaining 40 cents to trade at $72.24 per barrel.
The U.S. dollar was valued at 150.75 Japanese yen, increasing from a prior value of 149.70, while the euro slipped to $1.0519, down from $1.0589.