Asian shares were higher Monday, AP reported. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 0.6% in early trading to 20,532.95. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.8% to 6,454.40, while South Korea's Kospi was 0.4% higher at 1,934.78. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.9% to 25,734.22. The Shanghai Composite added 0.3% to 2,823.82. Benchmark crude oil rose 43 cents to $55.30 a barrel. It rose 40 cents to settle at $54.87 a barrel Friday. Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 53 cents to $59.17 a barrel. The dollar rose to 106.40 Japanese yen from 106.24 yen Friday. The euro rose slightly to $1.1090 from $1.1085.
