The local share market has picked up where it left off before the holiday, with more gains.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Monday rose for a sixth straight session, gaining 23 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7,578.4.
That's its highest level since a 1.4 per cent selloff on January 3 that signalled an end to the Santa rally, with the ASX200 also finishing Monday just 54.4 points from its all-time high set in mid-2021.
The broader All Ordinaries on Monday rose 23.1 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7,808.3.
Capital.com market analyst Kyle Rodda said Aisan markets kicked off the week on the front foot despite some hiccups in the region, including a Hong Kong court ordering China's once-dominant property developer to wind up operations.
The forced liquidation of China Evergrande hasn't stoked fears of deeper financial instability or contagion, instead revealing the careful and incrementalist approach Chinese authorities are using to manage the country's painful economic transformation, Mr Rodda said.
The ASX's 11 sectors were mixed on Monday, with eight up, two down and telecommunications flat.
Energy was the biggest gainer, rising 1.8 per cent as Brent crude hit a nearly three-month high of $US83 a barrel on the widening conflict in the Middle East, with three US service members killed in Jordan by what the White House said was a drone strike by an Iran-backed militia.
Woodside gained 2.3 per cent to $31.91, Santos added 1.7 per cent to $7.80 and Whitehaven Coal gained 2.8 per cent to $8.37.
The Big Four banks all finished higher, with NAB adding 1.1 per cent to $32.14, Westpac advancing 1.0 per cent to $23.93, ANZ climbing 0.7 per cent to $26.85 and CBA adding 0.9 per cent to $115.92.
In the heavyweight mining sector, BHP dropped 1.4 per cent to $46.87 after a Brazilian judge ordered it and joint venture partner Vale to pay 47.6 billion reais ($14.7 billion) over the 2015 Samarco dam disaster, which killed 19 people.
BHP, which has set aside $US3.7 billion ($5.6 billion) to pay for damages, said it had not been informed of the ruling.
Elsewhere in the sector, Fortescue rose 0.9 per cent to $29.25, Rio Tinto dipped 0.6 per cent to $131.82 and IGO added 1.7 per cent to $7.60 after agreeing with its joint venture partner on an updated lithium pricing arrangement.
Also, Gold Road Resources plunged 18.4 per cent to an 11-month low of $1.395 after the mid-tier Australian producer announced higher costs and lower production guidance, while Bellevue Gold rose 5.4 per cent to $1.365 after announcing a successful ramp up of operations last quarter at its WA mines.
Elsewhere, Bapcor rose 5.9 per cent to $5.58 after the vehicle part company said it expects to deliver first-half revenue of about $1.02 billion, up two per cent year-on-year.
"The results were disappointing due to general macroeconomic headwinds which have impacted our retail business, as well as increased cost of doing business inflation and higher interest rates," Bapcor chief executive Noel Meehan said.
Woolworths was basically flat at $36.19 after the supermarket giant said it would declare a $NZ1.6 billion ($A1.5 billion) non-cash impairment on the value of its 191 New Zealand supermarkets following slowing sales there.
The Australian dollar was buying 65.90 US cents, from 65.76 US cents at Thursday's ASX close.
ON THE ASX:
* The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished Monday up 23 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7,578.4.
* The broader All Ordinaries gained 23.1 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7,808.3.
CURRENCY SNAPSHOT:
One Australian dollar buys:
* 65.90 US cents, from 65.76 US cents at Thursday's ASX close
* 97.59 Japanese yen, from 97.16 Japanese yen
* 60.79 Euro cents, from 60.47 Euro cents
* 51.88 British pence, from 51.74 pence
* 108.12 NZ cents, from 107.68 NZ cents.
