Asian stock markets were mostly higher Monday after manufacturing surveys suggested China's economic slowdown is plateauing, AP reported. The region's gains came despite subdued growth in U.S. incomes and consumer spending that put a dampener on Wall Street at the end of last week. Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average was up 1.5 percent at 13,583.56 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 1.9 percent to 22,141.72. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 climbed 1.1 percent to 5,189.50. Sentiment was boosted by two surveys that showed China's manufacturing improved last month after prolonged weakness. Among other Asian markets, South Korea's Kospi was up 0.1 percent at 1,928.68 but China's Shanghai Composite Index shed 0.1 percent to 2,095.64. Benchmarks in Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and India rose while Indonesia and the Philippines fell. On Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 30.64 points, or 0.2 percent, to 14,810.31. The S&P 500 fell five points, or 0.3 percent, to 1,632.97. The Nasdaq composite dropped 30.43 points, or 0.8 percent, to 3,589.87.
