Asia stocks rise as trading in 2022 kicks off with a positive start; mainland China and Japan markets closed

SINGAPORE — Shares in Asia rose in Monday morning trade, as trading in 2022 kicked off on a positive note. Some major markets in the region are closed.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index traded 0.2% higher. Trading in the shares and structured products of debt-ridden Chinese developer China Evergrande Group was halted in Hong Kong on Monday, according to an exchange notice.

South Korea's Kospi gained 0.94% while the Taiex in Taiwan advanced 0.29%.

Over in Southeast Asia, the Straits Times index climbed 0.4%.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded 0.21% higher.

Markets in Australia, mainland China and Japan are closed on Monday for a holiday.

The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 95.729 after recently falling from above 95.7.

The Japanese yen traded at 115.24 per dollar, weaker than levels below 114.6 seen against the greenback last week. The Australian dollar was at $0.7265, above levels below $0.722 seen in the previous trading week.

Oil prices were higher in the morning of Asia trading hours, with international benchmark Brent crude futures up 0.54% to $78.20 per barrel. U.S. crude futures gained 0.64% to $75.69 per barrel.