06:39 AM EDT, 03/16/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets largely gained Monday following solid economic releases from Beijing and reports about the possible opening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which the region receives the bulk of its crude oil.

Hong Kong rallied, Tokyo was nearly flat, and Shanghai edged lower. Other regional exchanges concluded mostly higher.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened evenly but drifted, finishing off 0.1% as traders digested Middle East news and oil prices. A stronger yen weakened export issues.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 68.46 to 53,751.15, as losing issues outnumbered gainers 154 to 65.

Leading the upside was printed circuit-board maker Ibiden, up 3.8%, while utility Tokyo Electric Power declined 4.8%.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened evenly and rose to the close, closing up 1.5% on generally positive economic releases from Beijing.

The broad gauge Hang Seng lifted 368.42 to 25,834.02, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 58 to 30. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 2.7% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index rose 0.8%.

Leading the upside was Contemporary Amperex Technology, gaining 7.9%, while Zijin Mining declined 3.4%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite fell 0.3% to 4,084.79.

In economic news, China's value-added of industrial output rose 6.3% on year in the January-February period, picking up from the 5.2% rate logged in December, reported the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

In contrast, China's deeply troubled housing markets continued to sag in February, with new home prices off 0.28% on-month, while used homes fell by 0.43%, according to official figures.

China's retail sales rose a moderate 2.8% on year in the January-February period, up from a modest 0.9% rise in December, reported the NBS.

In addition, fixed-asset investment in China rose 1.8% on year in the January-February period, after slipping 3.8% on year in 2025, according to NBS.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 1.1%; the Taiwan TWSE declined 0.2%; the Australian ASX 200 fell 0.4%; the Singapore Straits Times Index rose 0.6%, and the Thai Set declined 0.3%. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 1.1%.

The MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index rose 0.6% on the day.