Asian stock markets rose Monday, AP reported. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.2% to 2,874.89 and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 gained 0.3% to 20,105.84. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong advanced 0.1% to 23,819.26. The Kospi in Seoul was 0.5% higher at 1,935.73 and Australia's S&P-ASX 200 gained 1.4% to 5,478.10. Markets in New Zealand and Singapore also advanced. In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude gained $1.23 to $30.75 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.87 to $29.43 on Friday. Brent crude, used to price international oils, advanced $1.31 to $33.81 per barrel in London. It rose $1.37 the previous session to $32.50. The dollar gained to 107.10 yen from Friday's 107.08 yen. The euro was unchanged at $1.0828.
