Asia opens higher as bond yields decline

Asian stock indices opened the first session of the week higher as bond yields decline after the recent surge, weighing on global stocks last week. 

Earlier Chinese data showed the manufacturing PMI down to 50.6 from 51.3, while the services PMI fell to 51.4 from 52.4. 

From Australia, the AIG manufacturing index rose to 58.8 from 55.3, while the MI inflation index slowed down to 0.1% from 0.2%.

Japan's manufacturing PMI rose to 51.4 from 49.9 in the preliminary reading for February, and compared to 49.8 in January.

Japan's TOPEX rose 1.71% to 1,896, while Nikkei 225 rose 2.26% to 29,621. 

China's CSI 300 rose 0.79%, while Shanghai climbed 0.52% to 3,527. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 1.18% to 29,322, while South Korea's KOSPI rallied 2.8% to 3,012. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 fell 0.04%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.35% to 6,763.