Sen. Inhofe OK after weather forces him to land plane

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks rose Monday following Wall Street's gains as expectations increased that central banks might ease monetary policy following Britain's vote to leave the European Union. KEEPING SCORE: The Shanghai Composite Index rose 1.9 percent to 2,986.85 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.5 percent to 21,098.80. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 advanced 0.4 percent to 15,747.60 and Sydney's S&P-ASX 200 gained 0.3 percent to 5,261.00. Seoul's Kospi added 0.3 percent to 1,994.82 and India's Sensex advanced 0.7 percent to 27,345.34. Benchmarks in Taiwan, Singapore and New Zealand also advanced. WALL STREET: U.S. stock indexes ended a turbulent week up 3 percent, coming close to regaining the ground it lost following Britain's EU vote. It was the market's biggest weekly gain since November. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 19.38 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,949.37. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 4.09 points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,102.95. The Nasdaq composite rose 19.89 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,862.57. U.S. markets were closed Monday for the Independence Day holiday. POST-BREXIT EASING: Investor sentiments were boosted by expectations the Bank of England and European Central Bank might ease monetary policy to shore up flagging growth following Britain's vote and the U.S. Federal Reserve might postpone a rate hike. The top British central banker, Mark Carney, said last week that easing "will likely be required over the summer" because the economic outlook has deteriorated. ANALYST'S TAKE: "Prospects that central banks (BoE and ECB) will unleash fresh stimulus in coming months are providing some relief in markets," said Mizuho Bank in a report. "It is also perceived that the Fed will either delay its rate hike to Q3/Q4 or no hike policy rate at all this year." AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS: Close election results left Australia with the possibility of no clear winner and a hung parliament. The lack of any party emerging a clear winner defied forecasts. Vote counting was due to resume Tuesday and political analysts said it could be two weeks or more before a final result is announced. The possibility of a hung parliament "creates medium term but unspecified risks for business," said Ric Spooner of CMC Markets in a report. "Markets will be concerned by the potential for a period of policy paralysis when it comes to budget and economic reform." ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude declined 3 cents to $48.96 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained 66 cents on Friday to close at $48.99. Brent crude, used to price international oils, gained 3 cents to $50.38 in London. It rose 64 cents the previous session to $50.35. CURRENCY: The dollar edged up to 102.70 yen from Friday's 102.49 yen. The euro edged down to $1.1135 from $1.1139.

Asian stocks rise on post-Brexit easing expectations