07:03 AM EDT, 03/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Asian stock markets largely gained on Monday, on the outlook for moderation from major regional central banks in Beijing and Tokyo.

Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo finished in the green, as did most other regional exchanges.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 opened higher and rose to the close, finishing up 2.7% as a softer yen boosted export issues, and concerns regarding a tighter monetary policy by the nation's central bank eased.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 rose 1,032.80 to 39,740.44, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 208 to 17.

Leading the upside was online retailer Rakuten, up 7.4%, while Tokyo Electric Power fell 14.2%.

In economic news, the Bank of Tokyo on Tuesday concludes a two-day meeting and will disclose monetary policy changes, if any.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index opened lower but edged into the green, finishing up 0.1% after a raft of economic figures released by Beijing suggested an economic recovery underway, but a still-weak property sector in China.

The broad gauge Hang Seng rose 16.23 to 16,737.12, as gaining issues outnumbered losers 41 to 38. The Hang Seng TECH Index gained 1.3% on the day, while the Mainland Properties Index fell 2.1%.

Leading the upside was JD Health International, gaining 6.6%, while EV-maker Li Auto brought up the rear, falling 5.6%.

On the mainland, the Shanghai Composite rose 1% to 3,084.93.

In economic news, in the first two months of 2023, the value added of large industrial enterprises in mainland China expanded by 7% on year, reported the official National Bureau of Statistics.

China's retail sales expanded by 5.5% on year in the January-February period, added the NBS.

However, the nation's new home sales declined by 29% on year in the first two months of year, according to official figures.

The soft housing sector report, and the moderate retail sales bulletin, boosted market expectations for more easing from the People's Bank of China and additional support from other government agencies.

On the other regional exchanges, the S. Korean KOSPI rose 0.7%; the Taiwan TWSE inclined 1%; the Australian ASX 200 inclined 0.1%; the Singapore Straits Times Index was steady, and the Thai Set was flat. In late trading in Mumbai, the Sensex was up 0.1%.