Mubasher: Japan stocks continued their upward trend at the end of Monday's trading despite lower-than-expected manufacturing data for China and Japan.  

The Markit/Nikkei Final Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) declined to 52.3 in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, slightly less than a preliminary reading of 52.4 and a final 52.6 in December.

China's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) stood at 49.4 in January, compared to the previous month's reading of 49.7. 

Nikkei rose 1.98% to 17865.32 points, its highest since 7 January.

The broader TOPIX also climbed 2.1% to 1462.67 pts, while JPX Nikkei 400 moved 2.3% higher to 13219.49.