The new year got off to a mixed start on Monday in holiday-thinned Asian trade, following a healthy run-up at the end of last week, with some cheer provided by data suggesting regional economies improved last month.
However, investors remain shackled by concerns about a range of issues including the fast-spreading Omicron variant, inflation, the removal of central bank stimulus and geopolitical tensions.
While the last few months of 2021 were marked by uncertainty on trading floors, global stocks enjoyed blockbuster rallies in 2021 as economies reopened and lives in most countries returned to some semblance of normal, fuelling optimism that the recovery would stay on track.
And data showing factory activity picked up last month across the region --including South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines -- provided a little optimism to start the year.
The readings come after China posted a better-than-forecast figure on Friday thanks to a dip in commodity prices.
Singapore enjoyed healthy gains thanks to news that the city-state's economy expanded 7.2 percent last year, having suffered in 2020 its worst performance since independence.
Seoul, Taipei and Jakarta also rose, though Manila dipped. Jun Rong Yeap, of IG Asia, said: "While the rising Omicron spreads may warrant a cautious approach toward reopening, some expectations may be that improved vaccinations will aid to limit the eventual economic impact."
Hong Kong reversed early gains, with tech firms acting as a major drag, while sentiment was also hurt by news that trading in embattled developer China Evergrande had been suspended and providing a reminder of the crisis in China's vast property sector.
