Asia-Pacific markets climbed Monday as investors assessed China's business activity for February and await economic data out of Japan.
China's National Bureau of Statistics data showed that manufacturing activity expanded in March, with the purchasing managers index registering a reading of 50.8, compared to Feburary's reading of 49.1.
Separately, Japan's first-quarter Tankan survey showed that business optimism among large manufacturers fell, with the gauge at +11 compared with +12 in the last survey.
However, optimism among non-manufacturers rose, with the Tankan gauge at +34 compared with +30 in the fourth quarter and beating Reuters expectations of +33.
The survey gauges business sentiment, which the Bank of Japan monitors when formulating monetary policy.
Persons:
Japan's
Organizations:
China's National Bureau, Reuters, Bank of Japan
Locations:
Asia, Pacific, Japan