Global Markets Today, Sept. 8 -- Asian markets traded mostly higher on Monday as investors assessed the resignation of Japan's prime minister and monitored key regional economic data.

Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 0.95 per cent after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stepped down on Sunday, following weeks of growing pressure stemming from his national election loss late last year. The Topix index advanced 0.51 per cent.

South Korea's Kospi rose 0.15 per cent, while the small-cap Kosdaq climbed 0.47 per cent. Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.38 per cent.

Futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were at 25,344, slightly below its previous close of 25,417.98, while attention also turned to China's upcoming August trade data.

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