HONG KONG, April 22: Asian markets mostly climbed on Monday, with Tokyo surging as the dollar pushes back towards the 100 yen mark after the G20 cautiously endorsed the Bank of Japan’s huge stimulus measures.

Chinese shares dipped, however, as insurers suffered a sell-off after an earthquake struck Sichuan province, leaving more than 200 dead or missing and destroying villages.

Tokyo jumped 1.89 per cent, or 251.89 points, to 13,568.37, while Seoul was up 1.03 per cent, or 19.56 points, at 1,926.31. Sydney rose 0.70 per cent, or 34.7 points, to 4,966.6.

Hong Kong added 0.14 per cent, or 30.80 points, to 22,044.37 but Shanghai was 0.11 per cent lower, shedding 2.47 points to 2,242.17.

In other markets: Singapore rose 0.45 per cent, or 14.87 points, to 3,308.92. United Overseas Bank slipped 0.48 per cent to Sg$20.78 while real estate giant Capitaland gained 0.57 per cent to Sg$3.53.

Wellington advanced 0.88 per cent, or 39.16 points, to 4,438.66.

Kuala Lumpur was flat, nudging up 0.40 points to 1,706.68. UEM Land lost 1.5 per cent to 2.70 ringgit, PPB Group eased 0.6 per cent to 12.60 while Maybank gained 0.7 per cent to 9.77.

Jakarta was flat, edging down 1.54 points to 4,996.92. Cigarette maker Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna rose 0.24 per cent to 83,700 rupiah, while cement producer Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa dropped 2.78 per cent to 24,500 rupiah.

Mumbai rose 0.81 per cent, or 153.37 points, to 19,169.83 points, its second straight day of gains, on hopes of a cut in interest rates in May.—AFP