Asian share markets crept cautiously higher on Monday, encouraged both by the prospect of extended stimulus in the United States and real economic reform in China.
A weaker yen helped Tokyo's Nikkei add another 0.2 percent to reach a six-month peak. The index amassed its biggest weekly rise in four years last week.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.5 percent, having gained 1.3 percent on Friday for its best daily rise in almost two months.
Singapore shares gained 0.3 percent as data showed exports beat forecasts in October.
It is another important week for U.S. monetary policy as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks on "Communication and Monetary Policy" on Tuesday.
The Bank of Japan holds its policy meeting on Wednesday and Thursday and is expected to maintain its ultra-loose policy.
The U.S. dollar was trading up at 100.30 yen on Monday, near a two-month high of 100.43. The euro bought 135.20 yen not far from the Oct 22 peak of 135.52, a peak not seen since November 2009.
"Our China economists think that if these reforms are implemented successfully it will substantially reduce the downside risks to China's economy."
In commodity markets, spot gold was steady at $1,287.05 an ounce, having crawled away from last week's trough of $1,260.89.
Brent Crude for January delivery eased 25 cents to $108.25 a barrel. U.S. crude for January also shed 25 cents to $94.24, having suffered their sixth weekly drop last week due to a larger-than-expected rise in inventories.
Source: Reuters
