Asian financial markets advanced Monday, AP reported. Reopening after a market holiday, Hong Kong's Hang Seng picked up 2.2% to 27,559.86 and the Shanghai Composite index was 0.8% higher at 2,849.22. Japan's Nikkei 225 advanced 1.2% to 21,134.42, while the Kospi in South Korea rose 1.3% to 2,099.49. Shares rose throughout Southeast Asia. Australian markets were closed. Benchmark U.S. crude gained 29 cents to $54.28 per barrel. The contract advanced $1.40 to $53.99 per barrel on Friday. Brent crude oil, the international standard, also added 29 cents to $63.58 a barrel. It added $1.62 to $63.29 per barrel in the previous session. The dollar rose to 108.63 Japanese yen from 108.17 yen late Friday. The euro weakened to $1.1312 from $1.1335.