Asian stock markets close Monday with gains

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) – Major stock exchanges in Asia closed Monday in the positive territory.

The Asia Dow, which includes blue-chip companies in the region, added 45.3 points, or 1.39%, to reach 3,309.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 stock exchange rose 191.7 points, or 0.69%, to 27,993 points.

The Hang Seng, the benchmark for blue-chip stocks trading on the Hong Kong stock exchange, was broadly flat, rising slightly by 9.3 points, or 0.05%, to 20,165.

Hong Kong's economy narrowed by 1.4% on an annual basis in the second quarter of this year, beating market forecast of a 0.6% growth, according to the preliminary estimate on Monday.

China's Shanghai Stock Exchange climbed 6.7 points, or 0.21%, to close at 3,260 points.

The Caixin China General Manufacturing PMI decreased to 50.4 in July from a 13-month high of 51.7 in June.

The Indian Sensex benchmark gained 545.2 points, or 0.95%, to end the day at 58,115, boosted by a report over India's manufacturing activity which posted the strongest growth in eight months this July.

The Singapore index went up by 27.2 points, or 0.85%, to finish at 3,239 points.