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Asian stocks were mixed on Monday after a higher open. Sentiment was supported by by a fall in the U.S. jobless rate which boosted stocks on Wall Street Friday.
Japan's stocks extended gains to hit a nine-month high, helped by a weaker yen against the dollar and after generally strong Japanese corporate earnings reports last week.
The benchmark Nikkei ended up 0.5 percent or 48.52 points at 10,592.04, after earlier hitting 10,644.21, its highest since May 6.
The broader Topix added 0.5 percent to 940.43.
Seoul shares closed higher, led by financial issues such as Woori Finance Holdings, which gained 3.5 percent.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) ended up 0.47 percent at 2,081.74 points.
Australian stocks rose 0.1 percent, helped by gains in banks and insurers, but retailers plunged after top department store Myer revealed a surprising drop in January sales.
Myer shares fell 11.5 percent to a 7-month low of A$3.32 on eight times its average volume after the retailer said earnings would fall as much as 5 percent this year, versus earlier expectations for a rise of as much as 10 percent.
The profit warning, which follows similar announcements from top grocer Woolworths and bargain store The Reject Shop, dragged other retailers lower. David Jones fell 4.2 percent to A$4.53 while Harvey Norman fell 3.6 percent to A$2.93.
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