Investing.com - Asian shares mostly gained on Monday with Tokyo bucking the trend as regional data sets were mixed including a surprise gain in second quarter Japan GDP, but weaker than expected industrial output and retail sales in China.
The Nikkei 225 ease 0.84%, while South Korea's Kospi gained 0.63%. In China the Shanghai Composite rose 0.39% and in Hong Kong,the Hang Seng showed a solid 1.16% rise. The S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.72%.
In China, fixed-asset investment rose 8.3%, compared with a 8.6% gain seen in July on year along with industrial production which gained 6.4%, missing a 7.2% gain seen and retail sales increased 10.4%, compared to a 10.8% gain seen.
Japan's second quarter surged an unexpected 4..0% on year as investment in plant and equipment lifted sentiment for the sixth straight quarter of expansion, official data released on Monday showed for the fastest pace of growth since January-March 2015.
The figure beat a 2.5% gain expected on year and saw the quarter pace at 1.0, well above the 0.6% seen. Japan, second quarter GDP was expected to rise a provisional 2.5% on year and at a 0.6% pace on quarter.
Ahead this week, the Fed’s latest meeting will be in focus as investors look for more hints on the timing of the next U.S. rate hike. A report on U.S. retail sales will also be closely watched. Elsewhere, UK data on inflation and employment will be in the spotlight amid ongoing concerns over the economic fallout from Brexit.
Last week, U.S. stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Technology, Consumer Services and Healthcare sectors led shares higher.
At the close in NYSE, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.07%, while the S&P 500 index climbed 0.13%, and the NASDAQ Composite index climbed 0.64%.