China LPR, trade in Malaysia, unemployment in Hong Kong

Markets in the Asia-Pacific region rose on Monday, ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, as investors awaited more clarity on policy from the new US administration.

that of Hong Kong Hang Seng Index rose 2.41% to its highest level since December 31, driven by the consumer discretionary and educational services sector, according to LSEG data. Mainland China’s CSI 300 index gained 0.86% after China left policy rates unchanged on Monday.

The People’s Bank of China maintained the prime rate for 1-year loans at 3.1% and the 5-year LPR at 3.6%. The offshore yuan strengthened slightly to 7.3345 against the greenback, while the onshore yuan traded at 7.323 per US dollar.

from Japan Nikkei 225 climbed 1.19%, while the Topix added 1.16%. South Korea Kospi slipped 0.18% and the Kosdaq rose 0.48%.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.46%.

In December, Malaysian exports jumped 16.9% year-on-year, beating Reuters estimates of 8.8%. This compares to the 4.1% increase recorded in November. The country’s imports rose 11.9%, compared to 5.2% forecast by Reuters.

Hong Kong is expected to release its unemployment figures for the same month later today.

Several Asian central banks will meet later this week. Malaysia’s central bank is expected to maintain its policy rate at 3% on Wednesday. The Bank of Japan will hold its next policy meeting on January 23-24 — BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has signaled his intention to raise rates. The Monetary Authority of Singapore will meet on Friday.

All three major averages posted their first weekly gain of the new year on Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 334.70 points, or 0.78%, to finish at 43,487.83. The S&P 500 gained 1% to 5,996.66, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.51% to 19,630.20.

President-elect Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone Friday about trade, TikTok, fentanyl and more, discussions that Trump called “very good.”

US markets will be closed on Monday.

—CNBC’s Hakyung Kim and Lisa Kailai Han contributed to this report.