Asian stock indices open mostly higher

Asian stock indices opened the first session of the week mixed but mostly higher, with China, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea higher, while Hong Kong lost ground, as Japan closes for a national holiday. 

Optimism is surging in the markets after successive positive Covid 19 vaccine news, however infections continue to ravage Europe and the US. 

From New Zealand, retail sales rose 28% in the third quarter, compared to a 14.8% tumble in the second quarter. 

Australia's manufacturing PMI rose to 56.1 from 54.2, while services PMI rose to 54.9 from 53.7. 

China's CSI 300 rose 0.62%, while Shanghai added 0.58% to 3,397. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.26%, while South Korea's KOSPI rose 1.86% to 2,601. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.5%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.54% to 6,574.