In Asian Equity Markets Japan’s Nikkei share average finished 2 percent high on Monday, as exporters gained following a pullback in the yen, while market heavyweights such as Fanuc and Fast Retailing helped boost the benchmark index. The Nikkei advanced to 22,149.21 points, its highest close since Feb. 5. Industrial robot maker Fanuc Corp gained 3.7 percent and clothing chain Fast Retailing advanced 2.5 percent, contributing a combined 77 points to the Nikkei. Automakers rose, with Toyota Motor up 2.4 percent and Subaru Corp advancing 2.3 percent. Buying was also seen in the banking sector, with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Mizuho Financial Group both adding 2.2 percent. South Korea’s Kospi index gained 0.91 percent while Australia’s ASX 200 reversed early losses to trade up 0.66 percent.

In Currency Markets the US dollar found some traction on Monday following last week’s steep fall and managed to hold above a three-year low against a basket of currencies. The dollar index against a group of six major peers was mostly steady at 89.045 after enjoying a modest bounce on Friday following its descent to 88.253, its lowest since December 2014. The dollar was little changed at 106.330 yen after sliding on Friday to 105.545, lowest since November 2016. The euro was nearly flat at $1.2423. The common currency jumped to a three-year high of $1.2556 on Friday before slipping to post a loss of 0.7 percent. The pound was a shade higher at $1.4045 after losing 0.5 percent on Friday. The Australian dollar rose 0.3 percent to $0.7932 after losing 0.5 percent the previous day.

In Commodities Markets oil prices extended gains to hit their highest level in nearly two weeks on Monday, buoyed as Asian shares joined a global recovery in equity markets and as worries grew over tensions in the Middle East. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel could act against Iran itself, not just its allies in the Middle East, after border incidents in Syria brought the Middle East foes closer to direct confrontation. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for March delivery was up 73 cents, or 1.2 percent, at $62.41 a barrel, after earlier touching its highest since Feb. 7. London Brent crude was up 52 cents, or 0.8 percent, at $65.36, after rising more than 3 percent last week. Trading is expected to be slower than usual due market holidays in the United States as well as Greater China.

In US Equity Markets the S&P 500 rose marginally on Friday to mark its biggest weekly increase in five years, although earlier gains evaporated after the indictment of Russians for meddling in the 2016 presidential election sent investors into defensive mode before a long weekend. The Nasdaq rose 5.31 percent for the week, its best week since December 2011. The S&P 500’s 4.3 percent gain for the week was its biggest weekly advance since January 2013. But it remains down nearly 5 percent from its record high on Jan. 26. Coca-Cola rose 0.45 percent after the company reported better-than-expected profit and sales as it sold more teas, coffees and vitamin water. Among the big decliners was Kraft Heinz, which fell 2.63 percent after quarterly profit and sales missed analysts’ estimates.

In Bond Markets Japanese government bond prices were little changed on Monday, with the market caught between negative pressure from rallying stocks and a lift from the Bank of Japan’s regular debt-buying. A wait-and-see mood also prevailed ahead of Tuesday’s liquidity-enhancing JGB auction and limited market movements. The five-year yield was unchanged at minus 0.105 percent and the 20-year yield was flat at 0.560 percent. March 10-year JGB futures inched up 0.01 point to 150.76, confined to a narrow 0.06 point range. The BOJ on Monday bought 270 billion yen ($2.54 billion) of 10- to 40-year JGBs as part of its regular bond-buying operation.