Manila  - Philippine share prices rose 5.43 per cent on Monday, the first trading day of the year, on expectations the US economy will finally start recovering.

The Philippine Stock Exchange's 30-share composite index gained 101.84 points to close at 1,974.69 from 1,872.85 points on December 24, the last trading day in 2008.

A total of 640.93 million shares valued at 1.44 billion pesos (30.44 million dollars) were traded.

Gainers outpaced losers 78 to 16, while 23 issues were unchanged.

Tokyo  - Tokyo's stock market ended the first trading of the New Year in a positive mood on Monday.

The Nikkei index of 225 leading stocks rose over 9,000 for the first time in nearly two months after Wall Street gained on Friday. The index gained 183.56 points, or 2.02 per cent, to 9,043.12.

Japan's benchmark index lost a record 42 per cent last year as the financial crisis pummeled world markets.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues was also up 16.67 points, or 1.94 per cent, to 875.91.

Taipei  - Taiwan stocks opened the New Year on Monday by surging nearly 5 per cent, on the government's economics stimulus plan, improved Taiwan-China ties and US and European stocks' surge.

The TAIEX benchmark index rose 134.04 points, or 2.92 per cent when the stock market opened at 9 am after being closed for four trading days since Wednesday for the New Year holidays.

By 10 am, the TAIEX had climbed 157.99, or 3.44 per cent, to 4,749.21.

Tokyo - Tokyo's stock market started trading for the New Year in a positive mood on Monday.

The Nikkei Index of 225 leading stocks rose over 9,000 for the first time in nearly two months as the market opened. After Wall Street gained on Friday, the Nikkei rose
212.76 points, or 2.4 per cent, to 9,072.32.

The index lost a record 42 per cent last year as the financial crisis pummeled world markets.

Indian equities welcomed the new year (2009) on a bullish note. Midcap and Smallcaps showed upbeat reaction all through the week.

The 30 share index, Sensex gained 629.3 points to 9,958.22 during the week, which ended on January 02, 2009. In contrast, the broad based NSE Nifty made 189.5 points to 3,046.75 during the same period.

During the week, Mid-cap stocks recorded 284.5 points to 3,391.18, while Smallcap shares zoomed 321.91 points to 3,870.45.

Expectations of another stimulus package by the government, hopes of further rate cuts by RBI and buying activity by FIIs (foreign institutional investors), helped the stock market recover losses of the previous week.

Indian equities gained in four out of the five trading sessions of the week, which ended on January 2, 2009.

On Friday, the 30-share-index opened positively but slipped into the red after a while as some of the blue chip stocks faced stiff resistance at higher levels.