Asian stocks rose as U.S. political progress eased shutdown fears, boosting regional markets.

Asian stock markets rose on Monday, reversing Friday’s losses, as investors reacted positively to reports of progress in U.S. political talks to end the 40-day government shutdown. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed, boosted by gains in mining, technology, and gold stocks, with Block, Monadelphous Group, and DroneShield posting strong increases. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.98%, and other regional markets in South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Taiwan also advanced. The Australian dollar held at $0.651, and regional currencies strengthened against the U.S. dollar. Market sentiment improved despite mixed signals from Wall Street.