Tokyo - Asian stock markets staged strong rallies Monday, with Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average closing above the 9,000-point threshold, following the announcement of an economic stimulus packa

Beijing  - Shares on China's main stock market jumped by more than 7 per cent on Monday after the government announced a major package of measures to stimulate domestic demand and buffer the economy against the effects of the global financial crisis.

The key Shanghai Composite Index, which measures shares traded in local and foreign currencies, gained 127.09 points, or 7.27 per cent, to end the day at 1,874.80 points.

Hong Kong  - Hong Kong stocks rose by 3.52 per cent Monday as investors reacted positively to a 600 billion-US-dollar economic stimulus package for the Chinese economy announced by Beijing.

The blue-chip Hang Seng Index consolidated a 3 per cent rise in share prices on Friday with a 501.2-point rise to close the day at 14,744.63.

In early trading, the market soared by 5.5 per cent to break through the 15,000-point barrier before falling back later in the day. Turnover was 60.7 billion Hong Kong dollars (7.83 billion US dollars).

Seoul  - Shares soared Monday on the Seoul stock exchange led

New Delhi  - Indian equity indices rose by over 3 per cent in early trading Monday, trailing a rally in Asian markets after China announced a stimulus package of 586 billion dollars to spur its economy in the wake of the global slowdown.

The Bombay Stock Exchange's 30-share sensitive index Sensex was trading at 10,298.45 around noon, about 3.35 above its previous close.

The broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange was hovering around 3,076.75 about 3.49 above Friday's close.

Tokyo  - Japan's key Nikkei 225 Stock Average Monday crossed the 9,000-point threshold, up more than 5 per cent thanks to a strong rally on Wall Street last week and the US dollar's advance against the yen.

The Nikkei index soared 498.43 points, or 5.81 per cent, to close at 9,081.43.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 37.65 points, or 4.28 per cent, to 916.65.